LITERACY TO EDUCATION

By LITERACY we mean the various steps that make the person reach the level of education. Though in many cases even the illiterates can be well educated persons, still literacy helps a lot in speeding up this process of elevation to the desired level which is a very positive and satvik need of the humans. Literacy generally means knowledge of alphabets i.e. the first stage then reading up to the levels of sentence making, reading and writing of sentences plus learning some formulas and theories on the particular subjects. Though it is supposed that by going through this process as well as reading of history and religious books and other literatures the person may be able to know much about the happenings in the past and is able to engage one self in the jobs or professions for livelihood for self as well as the existing and the coming family. As of now and after India getting free from the slavery like conditions, first under mughal rules and then the British rulers, a very high percentage of Indian population has been able to go for schooling and getting certificates of LITERACY including Diplomas/Degrees and Doctorates. But the big problem of this country’s literacy is that though many have done lot of schoolings but general upliftments to the level of education is normally missing. Mostly literacy and certificates /degrees and all are considered only as instruments by possessing which one may get jobs or get engaged in some profession and then settle there, only wishing and counting on the pay packets, the attendant facilities and so on. Same is generally the position of those who settle them selves in own run profession or business. The literacy as it exists now generally makes the persons more selfish and myopic and thinking nothing more than their personal self and their family’s comforts and luxuries. A bad purpose of literacy. The real purpose of literacy should have been all-round development on physical as well as mental levels and elevation to the highest levels and fill his inner senses with concern and compassion for others as well. This aspect of our human development which should have been there, is generally missing due to lopsided importance being given to our literacy. Had we followed the proper tenets of literacy itself the conditions in the society and the country would have been much better and all citizens might have been feeling free from bad elements, looters, spoilers, etc. in the society and must have been feeling comfortable and at ease, living in the society without fear and harassments. Similarly the wrong doers would not have been engaging themselves in criminal and other negative activities


To talk and think of elevation to the levels of EDUCATION just now seems beyond our NATIONAL AGENDA, even on LITERACY FRONT we are too much below the minimum needed standards. Just a few days back, going by the media reports, some assessments of reading /writing and mathematical skills were made for 73 countries of the world. Assessments were made by some international agencies. On the basis of assessments made, our country’s participants were almost second to the last, up only against one country. Should this not make our policy makers and executers hang their heads in shame and compel the system to be in urgent need to bring about improvements in the system so that the country is able to at least improve upon our literacy levels with the object to take them further to the levels of EDUCATION.

On this matter only some suggestions that came to the wisdom of writer of these lines are given here to after. The conditions as these exist now should be known to most thinkers in the country, so these are not repeated here. Suggestions are only for improvements. Which again are possible only if all the PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY i.e. LEGISLATURE, EXECUTIVE, JUDICIARY, and MEDIA COMMIT THEMSELVES HONESTLY TO THINK OF THE nation/society INSTEAD OF PERSONAL GAINS ONLY.

Suggestions-The first and foremost is to provide proper INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTHY ATMOSPHERE at all levels of schooling so much so that the students feel attracted to wards learning institutes.

TEACHING STAFF must be properly trained and educated to the extent that the students, present as well as those in the queue, feel attracted to schools and develop full faith and respect for the teaching staff.

SCHOOL BUILDINGS must be provided in such a way that the rooms are reasonably big, airy with proper ventilations to permit sun and air in abundance. These should be maintained neat and clean. Such buildings must be surrounded by reasonable number of trees and other plants of good varieties as well as grounds with green grass with play grounds for games and other physical activities. Such atmosphere at the schools should automatically attract children to the learning institutions.

All students must be made to attend the classes neat and clean with proper UNIFORMS. This shall help keep the students in good and healthy moods and may thus be able to devote more attention to studies and their pick up of subjects may also improve. Periodical Military type trainings should be imparted to students of at least class 8th and above. This may help them to become more committed citizens.. This should also help develop the habit of being in discipline in general.

For every 4/5 villages so as to cover about 5/6 Kilometers of radius there must be schools to the levels of 10th standards at least. All students must be made to attend classes by coming either on foot or bicycles. This scheme can be made applicable for the students from class 4 or 5 standard upward, going by the capacity of each student. This should help the students to improve upon their health as well, as cycling in it self is a good exercise.

Schooling can be made least expensive for all, not by giving doles to some selected ones but for all, at least, at the Government run schools. This will help the parents come out of tendencies to claim that they cannot get their children literate for want of money. If at all, some students still feel like needing help, this can be done by making their parents or themselves work part time in school maintenance. This consideration of child labour act should not come in the way as this work shall be performed for personal self and not for labor.

Schooling need be made PURPOSE ORIENTED going by the needs of the area and individual students, lessons and subjects, at least from class 8th on ward, too can be similarly selected.

Soon after entry of the child to the school, emphasis need be made to inculcate in him the CULTURE OF POSITIVE ETHICS AND GOOD BEHAVIOUR FOR all.

From say 4th or 5th slandered emphasis can be made on making the child fully aware of his MANAV, RASHRTA AND RAJDHARAMS so that they become real assets to the society and nation and are also able to follow the path as is needed for the EDUCATED CITIZENS of the country. So also they need be made aware of the contents of OUR SHASTRAS, not the word meanings only but the thoughts behind these wordings.

So that all the fore mentioned objects are achieved, still more and immediate and positive need is that SELECTION OF TEACHERS IS made in such a way that the cream of the society joins this profession. Working commitments and honesty of purpose should still always be kept under lenses for which definite systems can be evolved. So that COMMITTED AND INTELLEGENT PERSONS JOIN TEACHING PROFESSION, they need be paid reasonably well so as to provide some comforts as well to them and their families, so much so that they never feel grudge in having opted for this profession. Services of teachers need be given due recognitions as is being done for many such as cricketers and other class of people in art, culture. The teachers should also be considered for NATIONAL AWARDS so as to increase their commitments to the profession. BAD AND EVASIVE IN THE PROFESSION MUST BE REASONABLY penalized and all pluses and minuses in their cases need be given due publicity, so as they always keep themselves on the right track.

Just now we understand that classes up to 10th slandered students are to be given automatic promotions to the next class irrespective of their performance and their capacity to under take bigger loads of the higher class. This system needs review and tests, class assessments and exams need be conducted on regular basis, once in a quarter and yearly basis, so that each student knows his position and capacity to take up burden of the higher class, otherwise giving unneeded promotion may many a time, put the student in humiliating position and many times may even go in depression being always a laggard in the class and in the presence of other class mates. For yearly exams, work sheets of the students must not be evaluated at the same school, rather by some others who may be designated for the same very purpose at different levels.

Now a days it is observed that teaching staff is deputed for many other jobs not related to teaching as a result of which schools too are closed and teaching and students suffer. If at all some sundry work crops up beyond the regular one, the services of staff at the other state and central government offices can be requisitioned, as it is generally observed that such places are very often over staffed. Even if some small work gets delayed the same can be completed later on, but schooling must not in any case be permitted to suffer and teaching in no case be considered for back seat treatments. School buildings too should in no case be permitted for any other use when teaching sessions are in full activity. NUMBER OF HOLIDAYS in the schools and even at higher levels of university classes need be kept to the minimum levels. .AT all levels specially from schools, all must be made to think, say as well as act in the language of DUTIES INSTEAD OF RIGHTS. Students should be taught in terms of DUTY TO VOTE, DUTY TO EDUCATION, etc. INSTEAD OF calling them AS RIGHT TO VOTE, RIGHT TO EDUCATION, etc.. This may change mentality to the positive side.

MIDDAY FREE MEALS SCHEME as has been started by the Govt. creates BEGGAR TENDENCIES in the receivers and their parents. This also makes them loose self respect and esteem . So this scheme need be scrapped in order to restore self respect at all levels.

HERE TO DETAILED ARE THE FEW SCATTERED VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT AND THIS IS AN INVITE FROM THE WRITER OF THESE LINES TO THE KARANDHARS OF ALL THE PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY AS WELL AS THE COMMITTED CITIZENS AND GENERAL PUBLIC WITH REQUEST TO PUSH THE MATTER FURTHER IN ORDER TO TAKE IT TO THE LOGICAL ENDS.

RD Agarwal, A-86, Indira Nagar, Lucknow.

Mail ID rdagarwal.pnb@gmail.com Blog www.rdagarwal.blogspot.com

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