Sir,
For quite some time, the education department is in the focus of the media more for bad reasons than good ones. At times the issues are exaggerated to the disadvantage of the students in particular and the society in general. I was astonished to see news published in your esteemed daily on August 30, 2015 under the heading “Teachers watch as students do menial job in Kulgam School”.
I don’t know the context in which the students were made to dust the matting, but the way it was highlighted is not a healthy trend. We have to understand the distinction between “Civic Sense “and “Menial Job”. It is the duty of schools to inculcate civic sense in the students otherwise the dream of PM about “SWACH BHARAT” will remain a mirage. Education is not a means to gain qualifications but a means to make individuals relevant for themselves, families and the society. In earlier times, even regular work experience classes were held in schools to teach students different art and activities and tidying their classes and school premises was a regular feature. I am reminded of my High School where I have studied. The Head Master took the students to the jungle around five KMs away on foot to bring unique trees for plantation in the school. There were flower beds in the school, maintained by the students and peons regularly that the premises looked like a Mughal Garden. The Head Master was one of the best teachers and administrators of the state. If there had been such media focus and so called Rights’ Activists, he would have been sent to gallows for this noble job.
The focus of modern education has shifted to academics at home as well as school. As a result, social values have become a casualty. The students have been turned into “LEARNING MACHINES” and the end product of education becomes “EARNING MACHINES” devoid of social responsibilities and values. It is the collective responsibility of the department, parents, media, Rights’ Activists et al to understand the real meaning of education and focus on achieving the same objective than digging out irrelevant issues.
Yours etc….
S M Pandit
Jammu
Follow our WhatsApp channel