Progressive education can be termed as a student-centric activity-based education in which students are encouraged to apply their inherent knowledge in a small class size. The layout of the classroom looks distinctive since group discussions are given priority and students’ exploration skills and teamwork reach the apex level.
Specialized instructions and individualized academic interventions are the benchmarks of progressive education. Apart from this, students are given explicit instructions in social-emotional learning and are encouraged not to ignore their own cultural practices. Since the students are found to have a range of abilities and needs, one-on-one education is possible as a result of a small number of students in a classroom. Other strengths, such as fostering social etiquettes, life-skills and personal development strategies are convincingly effective in progressive education that makes lasting impacts on learners. Progressive teaching and learning enables learners to be engaged, creative and reflective on their innovative ideas and practical learning since this model adopts ‘learning by doing’ approach. This sort of education does not fully rely on textbook teaching because a specialized curriculum has to be made in order to engage the learners in activity-based learning.
Moreover, special care is given to students which helps them to explore their talents and abilities to achieve their desired goals. Most activities are on a discussion model; so, each student gets a privilege to explain their creative ideas and strengthen their learning mindset.
Progressive education makes learners curious and research oriented as teachers are a bit more encouraging in asking questions than giving easy solutions to the learners. Moreover, students are encouraged to participate selflessly in the classroom activities since the learning environment appears to be friendly and welcoming. And student assessment policy seems genuine, for students’ academic and behavioral changes are reported to parents with evidence.
Progressive schools ensure cutting-edge technology that enables learners to get access to all sorts of learning materials including required visual tutorials and images which help in strengthening their both competence and performance level. Curricular, cocurricular and extra-curricular activities are conducted in balance since these triadic attributes of education are indispensable.
Most schools in Nepal are spearheading the campaign of progressive education. However, to be realistic, progressive education is relatively expensive over general education since it requires state-of-the-art infrastructures and lots of learning materials, including stationery and worksheets, printing and photocopying of abundance learning materials. Some critics allege that this type of education can create a vast lacuna between the rich, middle and working-class people whereas others believe that investment in education does not let parents lament in hindsight.
To be concise, education should be affordable to all irrespective of people’s financial positions. Progressive education sounds extortionate until we know its requisites are worth fulfilling. However, most institutions are in pursuit of imparting education that can be accessible to the general public no matter what their financial status is. Every child deserves to get educated in the latest progressive mode.
