Nilacharal

Identifying with the Society
NCC and NSS must be strengthened as these are the activities which aim at cementing an individual with the society right at the school level. As our former Prime Minister (Mr IK Gujral) believes if every individual is made to teach five other illiterate brethren before he completes his schooling through NSS, that would help in achieving total literacy in a short period. The training through NSS or NCC at school level is not imparted true to the word and spirit. This has to undergo a positive change as they develop social awareness, self-discipline, confidence, and leadership qualities of a child. When this author talked to a wide cross-section of the student community, many of them seemed to be unaware of such bodies especially the students from the schools located in the backward towns/villages.

Are we a cynical Society?
The basic problem with our nation as an entity is that we always yearn for a "Messiah" to set things right. The lack of initiative, and a cynical attitude is awfully prevalent all over and this is the cause of a myriad problems that we face today. Through a sound programme talents of initiative and leadership have to be infused into the young generation and service bodies like NCC and NSS should be involved in such an exercise. Enrolling in NCC and NSS must be made compulsory component of school education. When the final exam results are announced, the best performers in NCC and NSS must also be announced. In fact, when SSLC and HSC results are announced, why only honour and congratulate the toppers in the subjects! We must honour the best performers in NCC and NSS also.

Integrated Education for the Development of a Society
A programme at school level can be designed to teach the ways to improve concentration and ways to focus a wandering mind. In order to cultivate a habit of performing any duty to perfection, children at a young age should be made to perform all sorts of menial work. So that an educated youth would respect any job and would not shy away due to a pseudo-stigma attached to any job. The major reason for the present unemployment problem and its consequences in the form of social unrest is primarily because of the fact that the present education system does not address the issue of wrong mindset in individuals. These qualities are not imbibed in school as the present system solely concentrates on information loading. Many of these have to be designed and built-in at the level of primary education itself only then would the expression level of an individual go up. An integrated education programme alone could help and there can be no compromise on it if we desire overall social development.

Drive Away Despondency and Pessimism
We boast of being the largest democracy but day in and day out almost everyone chides the functioning of this democratic set-up. It is not the fault of the system as such but the malady is due to those who man this set-up. How are these inefficient men and women reaching those slots? The fault lies with the improper education of masses which has taken the role of a silent spectator rather than proving to be a panacea. Present education is not capable of driving away despair by feeding hopes and opening up new vistas for a decent living. The youth of this nation become more and more cynical after each passing day (a large percentage of naxalites are 'literate'). The nation as a whole lacks a positive attitude and pragmatism. The commitment of the teacher and the taught are dangerously moving towards a nadir. If status quo is preserved by the present education system and if it does not enable the younger generation to derive benefit out of it, there is no meaning and substance in boasting of our culture, civilization, and glorifying our democracy.

(to be continued….)