Unit V

Diversity of learning contexts

Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU

 Over sized classroom
✦It is difficult to get a satisfactory knowledge of student’s needs.
✦Knowing students and remembering names might be a
problem.
✦The noise level may go inevitably high which adds to the stress
teachers may experience
✦Engaging learners actively in the learning process may not be
easy in a crowded class
✦Teachers might find it difficult to measure effectiveness.
✦One of the main difficulties that a teacher may experience is the
lack of individual attention

Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU

 Language

•In 1949, the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, titled Languages,
declared Hindi and English as official languages (and not national
languages) and recognized 14 major Indian languages.
•In 1961, a strategic decision was taken to implement the Three-language
Formula. This was later modified by the Kothari Commission to
accommodate the interests of group identity (mother tongues and regional
languages), national pride and unity (Hindi), and administrative efficiency
and technological progress (English). The Commission described these
changes as “impelling considerations that were more political and social,
than educational”.

Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU

 Language

Engage in multilingual languaging i.e., to move easily between language

systems that have some common and some unique characteristics
The strengths of multilingualism in the classroom would not only give
voice and legitimacy to the identities of children, but has also been
empirically proven to have a positive correlation with scholastic
achievement, divergent thinking, cognitive flexibility and social tolerance.
In an increasingly globalized and technologically advancing world,
language boundaries are fuzzy and fluid. There is a multiplicity of language
practices and neo-cultural identity formations.
Support multiple languages and literacies, allowing for their functional
interrelationships and complementarities to thrive.

Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU

 Social diversities and disadvantages

★co-existence of different social groups within a

given geo-political setting or in simpler terms,
differentiation of society into groups.
★'plurality', 'multiculturalism', 'social differentiation'
★The diversity may be both functional and
dysfunctional for a society depending on its
composition.

Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU

 Social diversities and disadvantages

Language

✴Language nationalism operates at the regional level

rather than at the national level; Three-language
formula devised for imparting education at different
levels is still not fully implemented.
✴The Indian constitution lists 15 languages as major
languages. All major languages have regional and
dialectical variations. Besides these, 227 languages/
dialects have also been recognized as mother tongues
making the task of language planning and promotion
more difficult.
Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU
 Social diversities and disadvantages

Religion
✴Religion is an important binding force of social
integration among individuals and groups.India is a multi-
religious society. Changes have taken place in religions
from time to time. Religious reform movements have
been integral parts of India's sociocultural life.
✴Religion also brings out internal conflict by cementing
internal class, language and other divisions in the
education system.
✴The Constitution of India made provision for freedom to
all religious groups to hold and practise their beliefs and
rituals Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU
 Social diversities and disadvantages

Caste

✴The caste system inherits problems related to economic,

political and social domination and privileges,
subjugation and deprivation etc.

Gender

✴The gender gap in education needs to be understood in

terms of disadvantaged position of women in Indian
society

Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU

 Social diversities and disadvantages

✦Social diversity based on Language, Religion, Caste

and Gender.
✦Differential access to education among various
diverse social groups,
✦Uneven Participation in education amongst various
diverse social groups,
✦Achievement also varies due to inequitable Quality in
Education amongst various diverse social groups

Dr. Nisanth.P.M, Assistant Professor, Dept of Education, RGU