Sunday 10 March 2013

It is exam time in India and parents are under more pressure



This is the time everyone is sitting cross legged with lot of tension in our country.  Yes, it is exam time and somehow every family is concerned with and connected to this period either through their own children or grand children.     The two or three months parents sacrifice their maximum best.  

Parents and children cannot take this period lightly;  as if it is a life saving one, it is being treated in every home in India.  Just because of this stress only, the schooling is not an interested one for the children.    Peak of the learning and teaching is the exam.   There the children fall into the clutches of education.    

I have had an opportunity to talk to a group of students some 15 days ago, in a Counselling;  all of them were going to appear for their X and XII Std. Board  Exams in March and April this year.  I could see that every one was tired, under unimpressive mood and depression.   I felt very sad at this.   They don’t have any interest to take the exam willingly.    

I always like children should be very happy and smiling always, otherwise I become sad.   I know,  normally during the exams the students are under pressure;  but, I see it is growing day by day and surely it is not a healthy sign at all, no authority is coming forward to check it.   Children are not supposed to be this much under pressure.   I am sure, under pressure no one can bring the results.    Only when we are calm and quiet, we can think better and act wisely.  Dhoni, Sachin, Roger Federer . . . .  I can name thousands of people in this list.

Unfortunately we don’t understand this theory;  we, from all the corners give pressure to the students, especially during exam time.  How far are we fare enough, please tell me.  I am always for students and their health.   Whoever harm to them at any time, I would like to treat them as my enemies.    I see when the exams are nearing and in the name of exam and marks, the students lose all their play times and even they don’t eat well.  Naturally their health will go upset and it will take lot of time to recover for them.   These exams should not be the reason at all to spoil the health and mind of our children.  Are we not ashamed of this kind of education?

Buck does not stop here: 

A  friend, who is also a doctor, is also a good Counsellor with lot of concern was discussing with me on this same point.  To her Centre many parents bring their children often;  children’s health and mind are much affected because of exam preparation.   Due to pressure, their performance in exams will go low, there is no doubt.  They lost good sleep and appetite …. These are the complaints.  In some cases, children,  to ease out their tension and stress, involve in many wrong means.  They develop a habit of smoking cigarette and beedi;  some start to drink;  they take drugs;  I could not write here so many students develop other very bad habits, which spoil the entire society ….. students don’t know what exactly they do when they are under stress.    What a pity !

The Marks and Exam stress are too much for this younger generation.  Students can be assessed in thousand ways, not exactly by such.  Let us not torture the children.  The Central and State Governments cannot be the silent spectators at least hereafter.   It has to design the school education system, which should be stress free;  children should love to come to school.  Thus our literacy rate also will improve very fast and there won’t be any drop out.    

Learning and Teaching are a pleasurable ones in Schools for children; unfortunately, somewhere our system is collapsed and instead they have become a punishment.

Today, the teachers are punished for beating or abusing the children in schools, it is excellent.  Same time, when the children are under depression or stress and any school is the reason for it, the recognition of the said school should be cancelled. 

When our Governments will wake up ?

   
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Monday 4 March 2013

Today’s youth turns towards teaching




I am very happy to learn that many youngsters, who are Engineers and other Degree holders today are showing a lot of interest to become Teachers either in Schools or Colleges.   Even many IITians have resigned their jobs and have jumped into Teaching profession. 

Actually this makes me very happy than anyone.  Because wherever and whenever I speak to others, it is always my feelings that we in schools don’t have adequate number of teachers;  even if we have, we appoint them without any satisfaction.  We find only 5% of the applicants up to our expectations.  If we don’t have better teachers, how can we run the schools well?   How the students will be moulded with a plan ?    Thousands of schools struggle today without better teachers.  Schools accept my version or not, this is only the true picture that is prevailing. 

We receive applications from the candidates for the post of Teachers;  Some of the candidates who have finished M.A. Eng Lit. don’t know even to write Leave Letter when asked.   How these teachers can teach good English to students ?  The Colleges that produce such graduates should come forward to check it’s quality.   Do they think only the qualification is enough without any knowledge?   Finally we see who suffers.

I also understood why the youngsters these days don’t like to become Teachers:  the salary is not attractive to them comparing the IT Sector.  They think, all the Engineers are flourishing in India and all are getting lakhs of rupees every month, altogether an attractive package. I know only a very few of them who shine well, remaining get very less salary like Rs. 8000 to 15000.  

One thing we must note here seriously:  after IT Sectors have come up in our country, all the youngsters are engaged;  they wear decent cloths;  they constantly listen some music even in the parks, buses, roads and even at home.    They ride motorcycles very fast in the streets;  people like me view them only in this way.  Actually that is not all.  

More than enjoying their lives, these young ones suffer a lot.  Morning you can see these youngsters at bus stops waiting for their company buses.  They eat canteen food in the morning and afternoon;  they are squeezed there in the companies;  they don’t get any time to take rest;  companies do have many big Gyms, highly sophisticated physical exercise equipments.  These equipments are kept in the Company Halls to be used by the employees.    But, no Special Trainer is there to see the Gyms are used by the employees.    If the Gyms are used by the employees regularly in the Companies, the health of the employees will be good;  most unfortunately, it is not so. With the help of employees the companies flourish, no doubt.   But what about the employees and their health ?  Are they really flourishing ?  Their health is not sound, just because of their work culture.  They reach home only after 14 hours.  They don’t know what to do on holidays.  Net result … … … . They fall sick at a very young age.  Many at 27 or 28, get heart attacks.  Have we heard of any such thing in the olden days ?

Really it is a shame on this kind of development of our country. “Development of our country”?.... quite the opposite I should say.  Our children are our future and country’s future.  We must protect them with good health.     It is a very good sign, the youngsters have realized the value of their health and come forward to relax in their lives.  They have come to know that money alone cannot give them everything in their life.  That is why the big change in their mindset. 

Of course, the Teaching profession is noble.  Teachers have a very special role in our society.   A single Teacher can produce thousands of geniuses, it is a history.  

I am very happy that there is a welcome change in the mindset of our young India.

Jai Hind