Today, if we are able to communicate our views with lakhs of people in a matter of seconds, it’s because of education. Education in technology has broken down the barriers of caste and religion. My ability to use a mobile phone is not based on my caste or religious identity. The societal acceptance for slavery that existed over 500 years ago, did not survive thanks to education. There are many such credits for education. But there is a lot, what is not being done, what is yet to be delivered.
Today we have colleges and universities that can guarantee professional capacities of students who graduate from those institutes. IITs can guarantee that a Computer Science graduate is equipped to handle all kinds of problems related to programming. IIMs can guarantee that their graduates have the capacity handle management crises effectively. We have many such institutions that prepare students for performing their professional roles well. But can any of our institutes guarantee that their graduates will not become dishonest officers, doctors, engineers or managers? Can they guarantee their graduates will respect women and never commit sexual assault, never pollute the environment, never litter, never pick fights, never exploit people?
Education cannot guarantee predictable human behaviour. For that we need to address the value education being given to students throughout their lives. While technology has surely brought the world closer, it's pitfall can be seen in the increasing isolation of our children and youth. Families don't communicate with each other these days and children are continuously exposed to mobile phones and tablets. Try engaging children in conversations and we are likely to come away disappointed. Schools must increase traditional practices such as classroom debates using topics of interest. Perhaps then we can reduce instances of people going astray in their adulthood.
ReplyDeleteManish Sir,
ReplyDeleteI admire the work you are doing in Delhi for education. But your blog only asks interesting question, doesn't offer solution. Can you pl offer some solution as well.
As per me regarding School education: Besides language literacy (reading, writing), basic arithmetic (count, add/subtract/multiple/divide) and basic bio, basic Science, SST, local history and culture etc info, School should equip student so that they can express self in multiple way (higher education is for specialization) but we equip them with average language Writing/Presentation skills and life long remaining unused (for most people) knowledge/theorems like trigonometry, Pythagoras theorem, Charles-Boyle Law, Calculus etc which they can learn in higher education if needed, why unnecessarily extra pre-prepare students for maths/science to lessen bit of burden on higher education that too only for STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) which most won't go for and even lesser will go for STEM courses (even bulk of those going for Software Programming related studies don't need this knowledge of various theorems of Maths/Phy/Chem).
I wish we could focus on those skills using which person can self express best. Can we focus more on following skills.
- Languages (Creative writing, Presentation), basic 2D/3D/animation graphics, 3D printing, video/documentary making, music, sketching, painting, dance, dramatics, fitness (sports, yoga, importance of balanced diet).
Also teach coding skills in school, its as important as reading, writing and arithmetic skills. Every student passing out of school should know how to create/prototype a simple mobile app, write a simple website, draw graphics needed for mobile app/website. As with these skills one can create a prototype to self express his/her ideas.
Would like to get a feedback from your.
Thanks,
Sushil (Hyderabad)
Sir I agree with you and I have experienced myself during my career span of 3 decades in defence, industries and teaching that qualifications achieved is related to hard skills which is only 30% relevant in professional life but on the other hand most relevant is soft skills which is 70% relevant in personal and professional life. This include your self-confidence, integrity, leadership, communication and inter- personal skills, attitude, self- disciplined and other personality traits required to make you a good human being apart from a good professional. Frankly speaking I am yet to meet the person who is both a good professional with high integrity.
ReplyDeleteOur education system should be based on Manners before Knowledge. Regards
Dinesh Gupta(Alwar)
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteI do have very different opinion on this issue, You may agree or disagree with me....
No Education System can impart the values you are talking about(i.e. HONESTY, RESPECTING WOMEN, KINDHEARTED, LEGITIMATE...etc.)
Arvind Kejriwal sir and people like him born and brought up in this very much existing system/education system but they have all the above mentioned values unlike millions of their contemporaries.why????? or how???????
All above mentioned values can not be imparted to one by teaching only. In my opinion if family member specially parents are honest, respect women, kindhearted, legitimate then child would automatically follow all these values....
Similarly teacher's teaching would be effective only and only if he himself possesses these values.
So its time to introspect for every one rather than making/changing norms/rules
Regards,
Kumar Priyabart Pandey