City schools affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are busy surveying teachers, parents and students to gather opinion about the changes to be ushered in as far as homework is concerned.

Monday was the last day for soliciting views on the initiative, which had been launched by the CBSE on September 10, to make homework more creative and non-bookish.

The CBSE prepared a questionnaire for principals, teachers, students and their parents. (See chart)

Based on their responses, the board will formulate appropriate strategies and activities that could be suggested to the schools for assigning meaningful, scientific and research-based homework at the upper primary level — classes VI to VIII.

Brother Satish, the principal of Loyola High School, said: “Homework is part of academics. We can’t ignore it. But we take care of the fact that no child is overburdened with homework. The length of the homework should be checked. Homework should be assigned to get student feedback on learning instead of covering the syllabus fast.”

Ankit Anand, a Class VI student of St Dominic Savio’s High School, believe that most schools have moved beyond the earlier question-and-answer homework pattern.

“We get projects every week on a particular subject which requires research. They are quite creative and meaningful. We are not overburdened but what actually is lacking is the involvement of teachers. I have submitted a survey form with a suggestion that students should be sent outside the campus with the respective subject teacher and get involved in practicals,” he said.

Sanjay Joseph, a mathematics teacher at St Michael’s High School, believes in practical-based homework than theoretical.

“When homework is assigned, there should be proper coordination and planning between teachers and students. Homework should not be assigned on more than one subject. Theoretical assignments may lead to loss of interest of a student towards a subject. Students should know how subjects such as science, mathematics or literature would help them in their daily lives. For example, asking a student to find the total area of his room with the help of a measuring tape will arouse more interest,” said Sanjay.

Parents, too, are now emphasising more on practical, creative and meaningful assignments.

“I visited my brother’s house in Calcutta earlier this year. I saw my nephew clicking pictures of random things, people and subjects around. He was asked by his teacher of social science to click pictures of things that has social meaning and makes him happy. Creativity is what is missing in schools here. Assignments should make children creative and self-dependent. It should give them a sense of decision-making,” said Rumjhum, whose two sons are studying in DAV Public School-Khagaul. Parents also have their own problems to share.

“Teachers should give homework which students are capable of doing. For years, I have been making projects for my children as they cannot make them independently. It is sometimes beyond their intelligence. This is the reason why parents feel burdened. Schools should prepare smart homework activities, which students can do and which bring out their creative side too,” said Amrita Singh, who has a daughter in Class VI and a son in Class VIII in DPS.

Overburdened with homework also leads to depression among students.

“No homework makes a child casual about their studies. So students should be assigned with light homework so that they can take out some time for outdoor activities. Some times overburdened homeworks restrict the child to his study room leading to depression,” said psychiatrist Binda Sinha.

In the questionnaire, a person has to first give one’s details and about the school.

There are a total of 10 questions, including suggestions on length of homework, main purpose and practice on the length of the homework on a subject per week and whether they believe that the main purpose of homework is practice, preparation or extension.