Whenever we debate regarding our
society’s problem, we end up with education. We think that education is the key
for solving all kinds of problem. But we fail when we come to the procedure of
educating all. Our government is trying very hard for many years, but after
spending huge amount of money and time, the result is not satisfactory, though
they are still working hard. Education is very funny, if we think little deeper
on it and its association with the solutions of the problems we are facing now.
The irony is the kind of education we are getting also actually takes equal
responsibility in causing the problem.
I mean the solution doesn't lie in
mare description of saying providing education to mass. Equal importance should
be given to what is being educated also. Education system is the biggest weapon
we can use to shape the society – some people call it “weapon of mass
instruction”. But the biggest mistaken perception our society has towards
education is – it is available only inside the class room of schools, colleges
and university campuses. Another wrong perception is thinking getting education
is only for getting a job. It is not the mistake of the people; I would say it
is the byproduct of the system that is being developed to make the procedure
simpler. When I was kid, many of my friends dropped school and didn't give
interest to their study, because they think their parent is not rich enough,
they cannot become doctor, engineer and IAS, and therefore what is the use of
education. I have friends who said, ‘after completion of master if we do not
get job, what is the use of doing that’. At that time, there were many
university students who were jobless. In my state still more than 90% (may be
more or less) of the population think getting education is only for getting job
– mostly in government organization. I don’t mean that is wrong, getting job is
one important reason but there are few more things that we are not realizing,
may be because of the kind of education we are getting from our schools and
universities. It doesn't mean we have to blame the schools alone; it is time to
see education from holistic point of view. Every damn small thing we encountered
in our life taught us, and that is also an education. The kind of parents and
the family culture we have, the words they used, the moral and value they
follow, the kind of locality where we brought up, the kind of friends we have,
and the movies and other entertainment mediums and also the festivals and
rituals we follow is also an education. But it depends, some people see
following wrong thing is the education and some people think avoiding the wrong
things after seeing those is education.
I feel our education system should
give more importance on the morality and self esteem. And also teaching the
students to be themselves and be what they want to be. It is big sin to criticize
the student who doesn't want to become doctor or engineer. And also should
punish those teachers who compare one student with others. We born with
different face, the same way we born with different interest and that make us
different – different skill sets. The actual purpose of education should be
like facilitator and moral guide for guiding the student to reach his
destination. It is not deciding a fix destination for all and pushing them to
walk there, and eliminating those who cannot travel to that path. When morality
comes, here comes the responsibility – towards self and society. Our societal
value is getting down, the rape and molestation case is rising up, the crime
rate is increasing, and people do not trust to each other. This is because of
complete failure of the education system. The failure is because we consider
only schools and universities are responsible for providing education. The
things that should be constant to all are moral and ethics, not the career they
choose. When paying above ten lakhs for getting a small post in governmental
organization/department becomes culture, the problem is not with the people who
are taking money, but the kind of education that taught to the educated youths
who think giving bribe is not wrong and it is acceptable.
