Compulsory pass to be scrapped; kids in quandary
Students committing suicide is even more gory than the farmers ending their lives in this country. There would be some report or the other about some student ending his or her life somewhere in the state starting from March to June every year. This happens like series of events. Education today is another version of child labour. While young children work to earn money in factories and other places, other children work to bring marks for their parents’ satisfaction.
Those who score less marks come under assumption that their entire life is over. They face criticism by their parents, humiliation by the society and insults by many others. All this destroys their confidence and will power. Those kids who are yet to face life, surrender to death. Just to ensure children remain safe and protected from this phase, kids from seventh and eighth standard were kept away from this difficult test. This was inevitable for many reasons. Primary and high school education is just a phase to identify the talent present in children.
To deny an opportunity for the students to go further in studies by limiting the education to scoring marks, is to trample a bud before it blooms. This was one of the major factors for the increasing number of school drop outs in the past. Education experts feel children learn better and with great interest when they do not experience the pressure of having to score marks. A child can grow up to be anything. A painter, a singer or a writer, just about anything. All this is a part of the education, say the experts. Just because a student cannot excel in a topic, he or she cannot be declared dumb or unfit for further education. They may have immense opportunities to achieve something in a field of their choice or interest. To stop him from going further, may actually rob all the opportunities the child has to do well elsewhere. Unfortunately, the new year has begun on a negative note for children of the nation. The right to education act 2009 had mentioned students should not be failed from class one to eighth under any circumstances and a suggestion to amend this bill to remove the ‘compulsory pass’ clause was passed in the parliament on January 3.
This decision by the parliament is somewhat a failure of the government which would be borne by the hapless students. Dilapidated buildings for schools, toilets that are absent, lack of school playing grounds, insufficiently educated teachers lacking empathy, the school administration that listens to government officials more than the headmaster, uniform syllabus that does not encourage learning and exam methods and systems that test the perseverance of young children, finally take a toll on them. Instead of fixing this, the government seems to think compulsory pass is leading to collapse of education standards among children.
Central government has said this amendment is supported by the states that have the interest if children’s education in mind. States were asked about their stance on this topic in 2015. Some states had said they would like to retain compulsory pass and even gave reasons as to why they’d prefer that since they had the interest of children’s future in mind. Some other states had given suggestions that had completely ignored the challenges of present.
Some states wanted to do away with the compulsory pass, while some remained neutral. To penalize kids and force them to learn is a violation of their rights, instead of modifying pedagogy and methods of teaching. The change has to happen in teaching methods, and not in scrapping compulsory pass. Education is not passing on information or helping them score marks. It is something that allows their personality to bloom and waters the talents they may have within them. This is the responsibility of government, teachers and educational institutions. Since the stakeholders have failed in imparting their duties, they have decided to scrap compulsory pass and penalize students for no fault of theirs. Making students sit in the same class for years never yields good results. This has been shown by experiments worldwide. This has more negative effects than positive. Yet, the government is instituting that the problem with skills has arisen due to compulsory pass bill in primary classes.
Children will get into a fix with this decision of the government. While kids are already taking drastic steps as ending lives unable to withstand the PUC and SSLC exam performance pressures, this may affect 7th std kids too in the future. Changes don’t assure improvement. The government should spare a thought about how this can help better future of children too. Government has to retreat from the proposed amendment for compulsory pass order.
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World saw valour, courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor: President
New Delhi (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the world saw the valour of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor when they destroyed terror camps on the strength of their own resources and asserted that any terror act will be responded with decisive action.
"India has proved that power can be used with responsibility and wisdom. The world has seen the valour and courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor," Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament, marking the beginning of the Budget Session.
"Our nation, on the strength of our own resources, destroyed terror camps. My government sent a message that any act of terror will be responded to with resolute and decisive action," the President said, amid thumping of desks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other parliamentarians.
Murmu said the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty was part of India's fight against terror.
"We are also working on Mission Sudarshan Chakra to further strengthen national security," the President said, adding that security forces have also taken decisive action against Maoist terror.
Following Operation Sindoor, she said, the trust on Indian defence platforms has increased.
Murmu further said her government was committed to social justice in the country.
In the third term of the government, she said, work is being done to further empower the poor, and social security benefits are available to nearly 95 crore citizens now.
"My government is committed to true social justice," she said, adding that 25 crore Indians moved out of poverty in the last 10 years.
The President also said the government has been successful in tackling corruption and scams, and ensuring proper use of public funds.
"For India, the end of the first 25 years of this century has been filled with several successes, proud achievements and extraordinary experiences. In the last 10-11 years, India has strengthened its foundation in every sector," she said.
Lauding India's celebration of the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the country's tribute to revered tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary, Murmu said, "when the country remembers the contribution of its ancestors, the new generation gets inspiration, which further speeds up our journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India)."
"The country celebrated the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. During the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the entire country paid him tribute and remembered his contribution to the tribal community," the President said.
"The events related to the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel further strengthened the sense of Ek Bharat, Shresht Bharat (One India, Best India). The entire country became witness to how Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth anniversary celebrations filled the country with music and a sense of unity," Murmu said.
The President's mention of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme was met with loud protests from the Opposition benches.
Murmu said the VB-G RAM G initiative would provide guarantee for 125 days of work, would stop corruption and leakages, and provide a new impetus to rural development.
The Opposition members raised slogans demanding its rollback, even as the treasury benches thumped their desk in support of the scheme.
The President had to take a brief pause amid opposition cries of "vapas lo" (roll back) against the Act that replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The Opposition parties have been demanding withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work and the authority of panchayats.
The government has, meanwhile, claimed that the new Act will further strengthen the guarantee for rural employment.
