4 minute read
From Chief Editor’s Desk
A Novel University imparting Values along with Education
Nowadays educational institutions, especially the centers of higher learning, have become a subject of concern. One can easily guess the objectives of such centers by looking at the advertisements for admission given by them. Whenever the USP of a college, institute, or university is talked about, the matter ends at the package of students getting after completing the specific programs. The main topic of discussion remains how many lakhs or crores of packages the pass-outs get and which multinational company employed them. One should get the best employment after education; there should be no objection by anyone in this regard. This is the primary aim of education. However, when a job alone becomes the sole aim of education – it shows the wretched state of educational thinking.
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The real aim of education is the holistic growth of a learner. Education would be considered meaningful when it helps in the intellectual development of the students and their spiritual and emotional upliftment, sows the seeds of virtuous impressions, and builds their character. Along with economic self-reliance, a sense of responsibility towards society should also get awakened in them. The learning would be fruitful only when the faith in the values of life, love for the nation and culture, and the spirit of harmonious living with others are awakened within the learners.
If we look at our educational institutions, the scenario appears to be disappointing. Some institutions are limited to awarding only the degrees. Their marketing strategy is such that they attract the students by showing big dreams and collect hefty fees. The guardians and their wards, searching for the shortcuts to achieve their ends, fall prey to such tactics.
Even in top-ranking institutions, the environment is not favorable for the holistic growth of youths. Such institutions, limited only to the development of professional skills, cannot be considered ideal. But the youths don’t have other options. Unfortunately, due to the lack of values, these very professional intellectuals create problems for society and the nation. Instead of finding solutions to national issues, they utilize their skills in creating more problems. Even they are found to indulge in anti-national activities. This shows a severe defect in the system of education they received.
The undue entrance of politics is also polluting the atmosphere of the educational institutions. There is frequent violence within the campuses. Very often, students gherao the vice-chancellor or other officers and prevent them from leaving their offices until their demands are met. Indeed, in such an atmosphere of violence and anarchy, study, teaching, and research get disturbed. It is true that the students should
I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious. – Albert Einstein
AKHAND JYOTI 5 MARCH-APRIL 2020
develop an understanding of healthy politics, but the educational institutions cannot be made addas of political violence and anarchy.
Under the present circumstances, there is a need for educational institutions, where along with the development of intellectual and technical skills, the art of living is also taught, where the excellent moral conduct of Acharyas (teachers/professors) molds the minds of students so that they can grow as responsible professionals as well as good citizens. As far as possible, the syllabi should be linked with the professional world so that there are ample opportunities for jobs to the graduating students. Needless to say, there should be world-class facilities for research and innovation.
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, a center for higher learning, is trying to develop in the abovementioned direction. Based on the vision and philosophy of Yugrishi (Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya), this institution is offering courses that are linked to the professional world. The syllabi of different programs are a synthesis of ancient knowledge and modern currents of science. A unique program of Gyandeeksha is conducted right at the beginning of each semester when the newly admitted students are oriented to follow the discipline of the university. At the end of each program, a student is required to undertake a social internship so that he/she can share some of his/her knowledge to the society.
With prayer-filled wishes for the holistic growth of our students,
(Pranav Pandya)
I've noticed a fascinating phenomenon in my thirty years of teaching: schools and schooling are increasingly irrelevant to the great enterprises of the planet. No one believes anymore that scientists are trained in science classes or politicians in civics classes or poets in English classes. The truth is that schools don't really teach anything except how to obey orders. This is a great mystery to me because thousands of humane, caring people work in schools as teachers and aides and administrators, but the abstract logic of the institution overwhelms their individual contributions. Although teachers do care and do work very, very hard, the institution is psychopathic - it has no conscience. It rings a bell and the young man in the middle of writing a poem must close his notebook and move to a different cell where he must memorize that humans and monkeys derive from a common ancestor.
- John Taylor Gatto
The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. – Aristotle
