It has been 75 years since India gained independence but some ideas have not changed yet. For example, in the past our education system emphasised producing salaried professionals. Even today, our students do not get to study personality development at the college level, even though that is the best time to enhance their mental development.
The recently introduced New Education Policy (NEP) is expected to bring about radical changes in the education sector. The old-fashioned education system did not teach us much. Thus, even after acquiring a degree, a student has to pursue further studies to gain professional and practical skills. Even today, subjects like mass communication and journalism, food processing, tourism, photography, social service, etc., with immense potential for upskilling youth and enhancing their career development do not find a place in our higher secondary curriculum.
As a personality development trainer, I have realised that even though teachers emphasise the need for self-confidence, time management, body language, use of subconscious mind at college level, nothing is done at the ground level to inspire the young minds.
There exists a culture of giving importance and attention to students with good prospects in various examinations. However,students who do not perform well are left to fend for themselves. Creating a new environment for such students is the need of the hour. If new subjects are not incorporated into the education system, it is futile to compare our human resources with that of other nations. This is akin to organising an annual ‘Yuva Mahotsav’.
I hope the Education Department will realise the need for practical education as well as classroom education in today’s fast-changing world. It remains to be seen how the New Education Policy addresses these issues.
