In the light of what has been said above, the following may be regarded as the characteristics of child-centred education.

1. Dignity of the Child.

The spirit of child-centred education upholds the dignity of the child in the academic and social fabric. Such a system of education gives due respect to the individuality of the child.

2. No Discrimination.

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Child-centred education is above caste, creed, sex and economic and social background of the child. There is no place for discrimination of any kind in child-centred education.

3. Education-

the Fundamental Right. Child-centred education regards education as the fundamental right of every child. Every child is educable, no matter whatever is his social and economic background.

4. Curriculum, Syllabi, Teaching.

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In child-centred education, curriculum, syllabi and teaching are organised in accordance with the needs and interests of children.

5. All-round Development of Child.

Child-centred education aims at total, all-round development of children. So, teaching styles and techniques should be geared to the well being of the child which leads to his cognitive, affective and conative development.

6. Positive Discipline.

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Child-centred education aims at positive discipline. While enforcing rules of discipline, child’s dignity and individuality must be respected. The modes of punishment should not violate the basic human values.

Teachers who indulge in such inhuman acts of punishment must be brought to the door of justice. Child-centred education condemns such misbehaviour on the part of inhuman teachers.

7. Continuous Evaluation.

Under child-centred system of education, the evaluation procedures should be continuous and remedial. Child’s deficiencies are identified and remedial measures are instituted in progressive manner.

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8. Helping Every Child to Acquire Minimum Level of Learning.

In child-centred system of education, teachers are more inclined to help children actualize their potential. In the words of G.L. Arora, “A teacher making use of child-centred approach ensures that each and every child acquires the minimum level of competencies in all the subjects.”

9. Not Soft-Pedagogy.

Child-centred approach is not ‘soft- pedagogy’. It is creating a child-centred ethos in the school under which child’s right to education must be recognised. He should be helped to nurture and realise his creative potential.

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10. Child-

the Nucleus. In child-centred approach to education, j it is child who is the nucleus of the whole system. It is child who is to be educated. The teacher and all other agencies of education are really means to educate the child.

11. The Teacher is Important Too.

The child-centred approach to education in no way minimizes the importance of the teacher. In a way, the teacher’s importance is enhanced and his functions become varied and complex. He has to study the child psychologically and has to adopt his methods of teaching to suit individual differences. In spite of transmitting knowledge alone, his function now is to develop the entire personality of the child.

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Summing Up:

We may sum-up the status of child-centred approach to education in the words of Dr. G.L. Arora:

“A massive programme of human resource development for school teachers will have to be mounted to equip them for creative and imaginative transaction of curriculum. More particularly, an attempt should be made during these programmes to develop skills and competencies among teachers for:

(i) Creation of child-centred ethos in the school;

(ii) Nurturing creative potential of child;

(iii) Development of appropriate syllabus and text-books; and

(iv) Showing respect for the child’s rights