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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India, Russia unveil new measures to broaden trade, economic ties between countries
PM Modi bats for bringing peace to Ukraine
New Delhi (PTI): India and Russia on Friday firmed up a five-year plan to bolster economic and trade partnership in the face of Washington's punitive tariff and sanctions regime even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to President Vladimir Putin that the war in Ukraine must be brought to an end through dialogue.
Following their summit talks, Modi and Putin unitedly demonstrated their keenness to impart a fresh momentum to the trajectory of the over eight-decades-old partnership between the two nations.
Besides finalising the 2030 economic programme, the two sides signed several agreements to expand cooperation in a number of sectors including health, mobility and people-to-people exchange.
"Over the past eight decades, the world has witnessed numerous ups and downs. Humanity has had to pass through many challenges and crises. And amidst all this, the India-Russia friendship has remained steadfast like a pole star," Modi said in his media statement.
ALSO READ: India not neutral, it is on the side of peace: PM Modi to Putin on Ukraine conflict
The prime minister, referring to the economic roadmap, said taking the India-Russia economic partnership to new heights is now a common priority for both sides. Modi also said that India and Russia are working towards early conclusion of a free trade agreement with Eurasian Economic Union.
The Ukraine conflict also figured prominently in the talks with Modi saying that India has advocated for peace in that country.
"We welcome all efforts being made for a peaceful and lasting resolution of this matter. India has always been ready to contribute its part and will remain so in the future," he said.
On threat of terrorism, Modi said India and Russia have long been standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against the menace.
"Whether it is the terrorist attack in Pahalgam or the cowardly assault on the Crocus City Hall - the root of all these incidents is the same," he said.
"India's unwavering belief is that terrorism is a direct assault on the values of humanity and that global unity against it is our greatest strength," he added.
Modi said India-Russia cooperation in the critical minerals sector is crucial for ensuring secure and diversified supply chains across the entire world.
ALSO READ: Russian President Putin says India, Russia collaboration not directed against anyone
In his remarks, Putin said the two sides resolved to prioritise cooperation in areas of security, economy, trade and culture.
We are looking at increasing annual bilateral trade volume to USD 100 billion, he said.
Putin said Russia is also looking at expanding cooperation in the energy sector with New Delhi, adding his country is ready for uninterrupted shipments of fuel to India.
We could also talk about cooperation in construction of small modular nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power plants, he said.
Russia, India and other like-minded nations are working towards a just and multipolar world.
