Ask a class 12 student what he has learned in the twelve years of his schooling and he will tell you all the subjects that he has. But what about the values that make one a good human being? Where will a student learn those values, if the school trains him academically but not morally? We teach our students to earn money. But not how to spend it well.
One among the many problems of Children’s Education in India is the quality of education that we impart. Education today is focused not on the overall development of a child, but on enhancing his academic abilities. Sadly, education has become a test of memory rather than being a test of skill. We have confused the meaning of being “literate” and being “educated”. People who write “xyz loves abc” on random places are literate and those who know how to, but still don’t, are educated. A child who knows 2+2=4 is an intelligent child. But he who asks why 2+2=4 is considered to be a dunderhead. Literacy is simply knowing things. Whereas education is knowing, understand, and applying.
Our definition of a star student is someone who scores a solid 90%+. What we do not understand is that every child is a star. Examinations (which are a test of memory, not skill, as I mentioned earlier) are the parameter we use to measure the intelligence of a child. WHY? Grades or marks DO NOT define a person. Marks are solely based on how identical your answers are to that given in the textbook and not on how aptly you have understood and explained the concept. Rote learning is the major problem. The creativity, capabilities and imagination of a child are not rewarded. Students are made to mug up things and they do! Because “that is the only way you’ll get marks. Write what is given in the book.” Isn’t? Most of the times, teachers assume that the students are already thorough with the basic. But they must understand that each child has different capabilities. Some may retain what was taught a year back while some may not. Emphasis must be laid on the strengthening of basics before students are taught further. Commercialization of education is also an impediment. Teachers encourage their students to join coaching and tuitions in order to earn extra money. The essence of teaching seems to be lost.
But all these problems hold ground only when education is imparted at all in the first place.
Another problem that arises is the attitude that people have towards education.
Let me site an example. A young girl is killed by her in-laws for not bringing enough dowry.
Now,
first of all, why did a “young girl” get married? Because she wasn’t educated and neither were her parents.
“Killed”? Because her in-laws did not value her life, her dreams, her aims. They were not taught that money is not worth more than someone’s life.
“Not enough dowry”? Why did her in laws demand for dowry? Because they weren’t educated either !
I am not manipulating the situation; I’m simply saying what the fact of the matter is. The roots of a human being lie in his education. Progress of a nation includes the progress of every citizen and no country can progress when a good 27% of its population below the poverty line remains uneducated.
Though the scenario has shown tremendous improvement, yet it doesn’t matter what steps the government takes for promoting education or how many schools it introduces until we change our attitude towards education, education for ALL. Ironically, most people don’t want their children to study in Government Schools but everyone wants a job there. Because we have a set mindset of “kaam nahi karna padta!” Visit any government school nearby and you will know what I am talking about.
Apparently, it is the the most relaxed job in India! We need to have better care, facilities, and teachers (who actually teach) for government schools. Better education would yield better citizens, who in turn act as human capital. Education is as essential for the development of a nation as it is for an individual No amount of speeches, FDIs, or foreign tie ups are of any use when the citizens of the country are not educated. Education is a basic right. And every time a child drops out of school or is denied education, we fail as a society.
The dream of India shining on a global platform will remain a dream unless we try to eradicate these problems. And the change will not come overnight. Being responsible citizens, we should all adopt “Each one, teach one.” So that our future generations do not face the problems in the field of education that we have.
Author : Saanica Wahal
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