Students of Class 2 of Amity International School (AIS) in Noida were asked to write a poem on the chairperson of the institution as part of their summer holiday homework, according to some parents whose children study in the school.
A photograph of the assignment paper, sent to The News Minute by a parent, shows the questions divided in four segments. All the sections carry the option to write poetry on the chairperson and also decorate the sheet.
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The parent also said that children are also made to make greeting cards for the chairperson on the latter's birthday.
Prince Gajendra Babu, an education activist, says "this kind of self-boasting should be avoided in schools. Instead, students should be allowed to think critically."
Speaking about this specific case, he asks how well do the students know about the chairperson to write about the person. Students may generally hear about the chairperson- and these are likely to be glorious versions- from the teacher.
"How can this be a real learning process? If the child doesn't know any detail about the chairperson, how will s/he write poetry about him? You can ask children to write about people who are popular or have done something for the society. In what way has the chairperson contributed to the society."
He however goes on to add that such an assignment may not entirely be called "wrong". "While such assignments may be part of co-curricular activities, they cannot be part of the normal curriculam," he says.
TNM has emailed the principal of the school seeking for a response. The story will be updated when we get a reply.
AIS also has branches in and around Delhi. When TNM contacted the Saket branch of the school, to ask if this assignment was also given to their students, a representative neither denied nor confirmed it.
She however added that if parents had an issue with anything regarding the school, they could email or speak to the administration directly.