My son is currently teaching mathematics in India...

[srebbe64]

...and I was talking on the phone to him today. He said that the kids in India are two years ahead of their counterparts in The UK. These Indian year 10 kids are doing what A-level students are doing over here!

As such, makes you realise that chucking money at schools is not the answer because the school he teaches at has virtually no money and next to no equipment or facilities. However, he tells me they really 'want' to learn - some of them walk/cycle ten miles each way!

Dunno whether to laugh or cry!

[Steamer]

I bet those kids actually show him a bit of respect too.

[srebbe64]

Yep there is respect and order in the classroom!

[shirt]

its not hard to beat the UK level of maths in schools though. thinking back its ridiculous and the step up to university engineering maths was huge. the foreign [EU & ROW] students were miles ahead of us.

[Ayahuasca]

srebbe64 said:

He said that the kids in India are two years ahead of their counterparts in The UK. These Indian year 10 kids are doing what A-level students are doing over here!

A-level work generally starts at age 16, no? Your son thinks that 10 + 2 = 16? Maybe they can teach him how to add up.

[AB]

Ayahuasca said:

srebbe64 said:

He said that the kids in India are two years ahead of their counterparts in The UK. These Indian year 10 kids are doing what A-level students are doing over here!

A-level work generally starts at age 16, no? Your son thinks that 10 + 2 = 16? Maybe they can teach him how to add up.

Year 10 and 11 is 15/16 year olds. Year 10... not 10 year olds.

ETA: Year 10 and 11 is GCSE time over here. So 2 years was correct.

Edited by AB on Monday 5th October 19:01

[Ayahuasca]

AB said:

Ayahuasca said:

srebbe64 said:

He said that the kids in India are two years ahead of their counterparts in The UK. These Indian year 10 kids are doing what A-level students are doing over here!

A-level work generally starts at age 16, no? Your son thinks that 10 + 2 = 16? Maybe they can teach him how to add up.

Year 10 and 11 is 15/16 year olds. Year 10... not 10 year olds.

ETA: Year 10 and 11 is GCSE time over here. So 2 years was correct.

Edited by AB on Monday 5th October 19:01

I am suitably contrite. As you were.

[Balmoral Green]

srebbe64 said:

My son is currently teaching mathematics in India...

Whereabouts? My brother is currently teaching in India too.

[srebbe64]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

He's on a gap-year Tonk, he goes to Oxford next year.

[Justayellowbadge]

srebbe64 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

He's on a gap-year Tonk, he goes to Oxford next year.

He'll enjoy it all the more when he does go up.

[Jasandjules]

srebbe64 said:

. However, he tells me they really 'want' to learn - some of them walk/cycle ten miles each way!

Dunno whether to laugh or cry!

Cry.

The Welfare State is the backstop for people in the UK who don't want to learn. There is no such cushion for them in India, therefore they have to learn, and do well, to ensure they get a job to earn money to eat.

Over here, the Welfare Kids are happy enough knowing that they will get a house, and enough beer and fags to keep them going, on their "wages", paid for by the DSS.

[Justayellowbadge]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Crikey, Tonks, it was only a mild double entendre...


Good points though.

[911motorsport]

AB said:

Ayahuasca said:

srebbe64 said:

He said that the kids in India are two years ahead of their counterparts in The UK. These Indian year 10 kids are doing what A-level students are doing over here!

A-level work generally starts at age 16, no? Your son thinks that 10 + 2 = 16? Maybe they can teach him how to add up.

Year 10 and 11 is 15/16 year olds. Year 10... not 10 year olds.

ETA: Year 10 and 11 is GCSE time over here. So 2 years was correct.

Edited by AB on Monday 5th October 19:01

Thank God for pointing that out; I read it as 10 years old as well and my 'crap at maths' syndrome went haywire

[Ayahuasca]

Justayellowbadge said:

Crikey, Tonks, it was only a mild double entendre...

Said the prefect reproachfully as Tonks cried and threatened to run to Matron with his bleeding bottom.

[srebbe64]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well we've spoken to him about all such matters and there comes a point, when they're old enough to die for their country, that you have to hope that you've raised them okay and let them spread their wings and leave the nest.

[Simpo Two]

No surprise - when education is difficult to get and expensive, and a route out of poverty, it is sought after. When it is free, undervalued and you can live on benefits without it, it's not important.

[Justayellowbadge]

Ayahuasca said:

Justayellowbadge said:

Crikey, Tonks, it was only a mild double entendre...

Said the prefect reproachfully as Tonks cried and threatened to run to Matron with his bleeding bottom.

Some of these quips may have made Tonks' day, but not his hole weak.

[VxDuncan]

I once visited a school in Uganda that had an armed guard and barbed wire. Naturally I thought it was too keep the Catholic priests from the church next door out, but turns out it was to keep the kids out that couldn't afford lessons.

[cptsideways]

In parts of Subsaharan Africa, it was'nt uncommon to come across kids walking 2 hours or more to school each way! The want to learn was truly awe inspiring I must say. Many of the kids were taking French equivelant A levels in their early teens with almost 100% success rates.

[srebbe64]

Balmoral Green said:

srebbe64 said:

My son is currently teaching mathematics in India...

Whereabouts? My brother is currently teaching in India too.

Hi BG - sorry missed your post earlier. He's in a town called Kakinada, in South East India, at a school/orphanage which we finance - about 350 kids + 50 widows. The town is a 'hole' - other adjectives could be used! Whereabouts is your brother?