Forever & For Everyone
Umpteen number of deliberations have been held, rounds of discussions traversed and after a great deal of introspection, one has arrived at the definite finding that ‘complete literacy’ holds the key to transformation of a society ridden by socio-economic, political ‘ problems’ which confront all well-meaning planners of the country.
Everything else comes next in order of importance.
This essay, by no means, is a repetition of all those well-known declarations about inequities in the educational system, the asymmetry in syllabi or the ever-escalating, prohibitive costs of education even for those families who can affixed to send their children to attend school.
And, it is also not castigating inept, corrupt officials for a total-failure to enforce a code of discipline or to bring about an uniformity in the wayward, derailed education-systems across the nation.
We, the people of India, today, are a more informed, advanced, evolved lot than our previous generations. And, today, we are at the crossroads of real progress being sought to be brought about throughout India.
So, what must we do to undertake this ‘ breakdown-maintenance’ and thereby repair the mechanical education-system of the country?
As the banyan tree, so the educational role of the billion-plus strong, vast country.
Let us begin in a very small fashion. At the micro-level.
Adopt a district of your choice.
Abolish free-hostels for few reserved categories of students, etc.
Ensure active involvement of the district collector in ascertaining the number of school-going age-group of children of all age-groups living in the district.
Admit them all.
Provide free education. Levy no fees. Supply books and learning-aids as well as uniform-clothing sets, free of charge. To all students.
Also, provide a thousand rupees a month stipend to these students which will be credited to their post-office banking / savings accounts automatically.
No child labour. And, no child of school-going age can sit at home, idle on account of whatever reason. Including poverty or backwardness of the parents.
They must go home and return to school each morning.
These students will be taught how to dress, how to communicate and all aspects of healthy hygienic practices.
They will be taught not to throw waste-material around as litter but to keep their surroundings clean and tidy.
All will have three days of academic teaching with civics, law and mathematics as basic subjects from primary school onwards.
History and geography do not take precedence under a new, revised, uniform, scientific, updated educational syllabus, with an uniform pattern across the country.
On the other three days of schooling, the students – all of them, shall be taught basic skills of changing a fuse, gardening and special skills would be inculcated in trades like plumbing, welding, carpentry, tailoring or computing, etc. in order to ensure a self-reliant, comprehensive growth as they clear class after class, in a twelve-years educational training duration.
Also, they would all be taught how to drive two-wheelers and four-wheelers by the time they pass out around age 17 and in a year’s time, become full-grown adults, eligible to exercise their precious right of voting in general elections .
In this process, personal values are imbibed.
A love for the nation as also the purpose of existence is imparted as they grow up to become self-sufficient adults.
These are the first generation of ‘planned responsible citizens’ .
The future, hence, is built, today.
Yesteryear-trauma all of us have faced in traffic jams, unclean streets, disorderliness and beggars descending as vultures on foreign tourists being shown around by touts and tour-operators, would soon be forgotten.
All this cost of education for a model district can be borne by a public charitable trust, of a happy, influential or well-to-do family. Every other district will follow suit.
I am beginning the change. As a first sponsor. Are we ready?
Yes. Of course, the Honorable President would be pleased to advise the Union Government and respective State Governments to follow suit.
This, in essence, is the spirit of oneness of a nation under the much-mouthed -‘ cooperative federalism structure’ .
Not, bad-mouthing, mud-slinging or caste-based admissions or reservation which in effect acts as a restriction on others able and eligible.
To go the whole distance, ban all private schools.
All schools be run by Government and syllabus be uniform, in all regional languages.
The official languages can be made mandatory. To be able to compete and become world-beaters.
The nextGen would then be automatically responsible able, self-reliant citizens, most of whom shall possess entrepreneurial spirit and more importantly, no more be unsure, diffident motley groups lacking self-confidence .
To live. To breathe. To achieve. To be. To be Indians !
This, would also be the greatest achievement and best gift Achey din era can pass on as a legacy and heritage to be enjoyed and owned by the next generation of India.
Any objections, honorable Fellow Citizens ?
Jai hind ! 🇮🇳
Vandey Mataram!!
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Hats off such revolutionary articles. Yes India has to bring all the three “Free & fair Education, Medication & Social Security” to all her citizen. Anyone, who takes first step towards these goals, shall be doing greatest service to the nation.
Best of Luck PVR
One of the great essays by you Sir….Of course we can deliberate of some points but most of them are well meaning and should be adopted for the real future of India…
Keep writing