“Competition for high grades seriously limits the quality of learning at all levels of education.”

In the quest for productivity, most of the times tend to forget that greatest innovation takes place in the midst brilliant brains set free. Competition does tend to hurry a person and forces him to give the ‘possible solution’ instead of ‘best possible solution’.

Competition is set as bench mark for grading between students so as to bring the best possible potential. High grading ensures that one has fulfilled the requirements set by the examiners. What competition in grading system does is lessen the zeal of the students as well as the quality of learning. For example, the final target set for all students in common does not help in bringing the best out of them. While preparing for the exams some study judiciously and still do not qualify. While those who know that they could still make it in spite of them not giving their best attempt are deprived of more. Even though when all are given the same platform virtually, it’s unfair to say that students are learning to the best of their ability. All of them get busy in finding out the quickest route possible and ‘finish’ the job than finding the best route to ‘complete’ the job. Quality of learning improves only when students are given room to breathe, miracles happen and innovation then takes over.

No one sets a pattern for a baby how he should learn how to walk, talk and then balk at others. It happens with little support, little nourishment and room to excel. Although, when we think about winning an Olympic medal we have to compete with our self to excel and set yesterdays performance as a benchmark irrespective of the world record at first. Yes there is always room for well-wishers to monitor and clock their performance. Rating does no miracle, just a waste of time. Everyone needs to use their brain, to let him deliver his best after intense learning. It’s not like do it now or never; its like, how are you doing? Sir Isaac Newton was not asked to sit and observe an apple falling from tree in a bunch of people, timing their performance and submit field report the next day. Likewise, everyone would keep wondering what the other guys have found out, and worrying if they are able to keep the pace up with others; thus lowering everyone’s performance.

Finally, competing and grading regulations does not provide the quality learning proposition, but definitely helps in sorting out the worst and the best. Competing for higher grades does not always provide zeal to learn more, but it drives after compulsion, thus hampering the idea of quality learning. Likewise, what quality learning is when young minds are set free to experiment, many of which may not succeed, but definitely tend to take greatest lessons of their life to settle in for the best they could possibly do.