In the 50 years after Independence, through the various schemes of the Government, we have made tremendous strides in the field of education. But, have we fulfilled the fundamental goal of education, i.e. character building? Character is built through values, which forms the foundation for any harmonious society.
Gone are the days when the social and education systems provided an environment wherein the individual could imbibe values through examples set by the teachers and elders. Today the pressures of materialism have pushed us into a situation wherein the teachers, parents and the students are racing against time to watch their resources with the constantly-changing demands of the environment.
This calls for a paradigm shift in our perception of the goals of education. We need to impart the skills and attitudes needed to achieve success within the framework of time-tested values. We need to help the youngsters to understand the underlying links between freedom and discipline, independence and interdependence, commitment to self and commitment to others, material success and moral values.
Do we have any right to comment about the problems unless we take some responsibility to find solutions?
We expect someone else to solve the problems. It is the attitude of the educated Indian, rather than the ignorance of the uneducated, which is acting as the main constraint in achieving a feasible solution.
By changing this attitude we can achieve wonders in revamping our educational system. If all of us join hands and focus on this one cause, within 10 years there will be a perceptible change in the quality of life in India. After all, was not through people’s participation that we won our freedom?
Radha Raju, The Hindu, New Delhi, January 25, 2000 (My grateful thanks to the writer and the newspaper)
Gone are the days when the social and education systems provided an environment wherein the individual could imbibe values through examples set by the teachers and elders. Today the pressures of materialism have pushed us into a situation wherein the teachers, parents and the students are racing against time to watch their resources with the constantly-changing demands of the environment.
This calls for a paradigm shift in our perception of the goals of education. We need to impart the skills and attitudes needed to achieve success within the framework of time-tested values. We need to help the youngsters to understand the underlying links between freedom and discipline, independence and interdependence, commitment to self and commitment to others, material success and moral values.
Do we have any right to comment about the problems unless we take some responsibility to find solutions?
We expect someone else to solve the problems. It is the attitude of the educated Indian, rather than the ignorance of the uneducated, which is acting as the main constraint in achieving a feasible solution.
By changing this attitude we can achieve wonders in revamping our educational system. If all of us join hands and focus on this one cause, within 10 years there will be a perceptible change in the quality of life in India. After all, was not through people’s participation that we won our freedom?
Radha Raju, The Hindu, New Delhi, January 25, 2000 (My grateful thanks to the writer and the newspaper)
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