Teachers happy to see confidence among students; Nagpur

NAGPUR: The Times School Parliament, 2018, held at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation Town Hall, was no less than an actual legislative assembly. Heated discussions, opposing views and the best use of freedom of speech — the debate saw it all.
While the students had been introduced to a parliament theoretically, TSP turned out to be a unique opportunity for them to don the hat of policy-makers. “The event provided a good platform where students got a first-hand experience of how a parliament functions.They raised very legitimate points and the topic was quite appropriate, keeping in mind the current situation of education in our country,” said Jatin Alekar, a social studies teacher at Bishop Cotton High school.
The best thing about the event was that right from CBSE students to those studying in NMC schools, all got a platform to express their views, said Zahira Bank, who teaches Chemistry at Essence Nair School. “TSP offered a great learning environment. We are already waiting for the next event and hope students continue to get platforms like these,” added Bano.
According to principal of Tuli Public School Anju Chopra, the students performed beyond expectation. “There were some points raised by them which even we struggled to think. It was wonderful to see the confidence showed by not just CBSE, but also NMC students,” she said.
Apart from being a learning platform, TSP also opened up career avenues for the young minds. It is high time that the younger generation starts showing an inclination towards politics and dream about careers other than medical and engineering. Such events are an eye-opener for them,” said Jasmeet Kaur Parma, English teacher at Tuli Public School.
Stating that the event was well coordinated, Vinee Kumar, language teacher at Montfort School, said, “There should have been more time allocated to open mic session. It is highly important that everyone should get a proper chance to express their views. Platforms like these enable students to learn about the values of public speaking.”
“Not just that, TSP is a chance to “apply fundamentals taught in classrooms,” said Sonali Khaparde, head of department at Central India Public School, Kapsi.
For Mangesh Chinewar, the best part about the event was the sneak peak it gave the students on how big decisions are taken. “It is important for students to know how these things work. Through such events, they become aware of how ideas are exchanged and implemented,” said Chinewar, a social science teacher at Royal Gondwana Public School.
Stressing that a little aggressiveness is the key to survive in today’s world, Shehnaz Ojha said that this was a take-away lesson. “Among so many conflicting opinions, students had to put forth their views and make their voice heard. The atmosphere was great and lively,” said Ojha, a teacher in Sandipani High School.