SRI SRI UNIVERSITY

“…Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts… Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts; nothing else will ever be of any service to them…” an extract from Charles Dickens’ ‘Hard Times’ sums up perfectly how the education system is functioning globally. At the onset, a child is pushed into a world where the numbers on his mark sheet creates or destroys his aspirations (if not, certainly his overall self-esteem). In the rat race to be able to have a secure job, the education process has been reduced to mere textbook learning, falling short of creating strong individuals who have been nurtured to their full potential. 

There is a general sense of discontentment in today’s youth. Do you agree? There is lack of clarity and a sense of insecurity that has seeped into their system. Since education is a crucial part of any individual’s upbringing, there must be loopholes in the system that requires immediate attention.

While the framework of the education system varies from one nation to another, the crisis that students face is global. The learning process has become subject-bound; there is no freedom of choice.

Do you think a student must be assessed only on the basis of a fixed curriculum that a school/ institution has prepared for him? There is a need to completely reform the education system in 2019. Following we will list a few ways in which this can be achieved:

1) Skill-based education for better career prospects:
There is a need to introduce skill-based education in schools and colleges. Vocational skills must be included as part of the regular curriculum. Students across the globe remain unemployed due to lack of enough employability skills such as interpersonal skills, presentation, and effective communication.

2) Original Thinking, Research, and Innovation:
Are we encouraging our students enough to innovate, create and research? Are we backing them enough to explore their capabilities? This is the question that needs to be pondered upon by most educational institutions across the globe. If we want innovation, it is the young minds that need to be guided, given the freedom to explore. Original ideas, research must be encouraged.

3) Introduction to Holistic Approach:
Every child is a seeker and an explorer, however, the education system gradually restricts his power of reasoning and he soon becomes a believer. He is made to believe in all that is in black and white. This creates a sense of discontentment and vacuum. As they are not able to effectively channelize their energy in the right direction, stress and anxiety creep in. The overall performance deteriorates and we are not able to create enough skilled and dedicated citizens. Education through holistic approach is basically ways to explore and uplift the spirit. Thus educational institutions all over the world must introduce students to spiritual practices.

A better world can be created only if the present generation is provided with enough opportunities to grow, explore varied dimensions and a paradigm shift in the education system is a must.