From text books to text messaging: Framing SMS, Whatsapp messages to be part of exams in Maharashtra

How much time do you spend daily chatting with someone on SMS or Whatsapp? A considerably large amount of time for sure, as instant messaging has become one of the foremost means of communication today. This probably explains why the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education is planning to include the much underestimated skill of texting in its curriculum. [caption id=“attachment_2444370” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Screengrab from YouTube[/caption] Yes, you read that right. A new paper pattern for all second and composite languages in Maharashtra school for Standard IX will include a question on framing instant messages for mobile phones. This will include texts like a leave SMS or a condolence message on Whatsapp, according to a report in  The Times of India. However, this new component is not in English, but for second languages like Hindi and Marathi and composite language like Sanskrit. This development could make things more difficult for students who are more comfortable in texting in English. Nevertheless, this change is aimed at improving the quality and development of students according to state board secretary Krishnakumar Patil, who was quoted in  The Times of India story. But this newest addition to the syllabus is faced with two main challenges, according to various teachers quoted in the report. Firstly, there is a lack of clarity in the circular and secondly not all teachers are trained to teach texting. While most students might welcome the chance to write short SMS messages for marks, the reactions of teachers and parents might not quite be replete with smiley-faced emoticons.