During 3 decades of my academic career working in a spectrum of professions as a lecturer, an administrator, social worker, and motivational speaker, I got an opportunity to study the students, staff, and the academic system. I recall my experiences from different districts of Telangana. The students have the fire to be ignited but there is no appropriate platform to take them to their proportionate goals. There are numerous issues, which cannot be de-linked with education system. The students, when they come from agriculture or from agro based labor community, it is necessary to give education about the occupations of their families. The looked down upon occupations of rural area require proper education to uplift their thought.
According to United nations estimates the current world population in 2018 is 7.6 billion.According to the most recent survey in 2013, 10.7% lived on less than US $1.90 a day in 2013. Over 3 billions live on less than $ 2.50 a day (170/- Indian rupees). The poverty is a complex ailment of society. When the symptoms of the syndrome is isolated and treated only through education, there is a possibility of eradicating symptoms in a phased manner.
Without the beginning, it is not possible to treat the ailment. Placebo approach like political schemes can be compared to child and chocolate. It is purely a cosmetic approach. It is like attracting flies by the sugary food stuff. How long a great country like India moves with a principle of attracting flies with molasses particularly in politics. The impact goes down to all organs of society. One can woo the voters to gain sympathy but public money is wasted away instead of the development. The real development of children and youth is directly linked with practical and pragmatic education.
The discrimination, personal issues, and inequalities of any society can be addressed not through mere catalytic economic and political way. The needy practical education is the only way to solve any type of issue related to governance of people. Mismatch solutions to the issues of education cannot answer them. How long a theoretic rule of law or dominance of powered representatives over law continues? An example can be seen in a busy traffic while vehicles of ministers pass by obstructing the common people. It never happens in civilized nations.
Ours is representative dominated democracy where a minister attends only such places where gathering is very high or nepotism works or to lure the political boss. In such a way events are organized. Our press needs a political hero to focus the event in the press. In true sense, the might is the right principle works in our nation.
The gap between market needs and classroom education need to be filled. Education without application is a mere waste. Such type of education paves way to make a large society of unemployed or clerical dominated system. We are producers of the staff who work for low salaries. Because of more supply and less demand in the private sector. Our teachers earn less than drivers and daily wage-workers in a majority of private schools. Who should be blamed for this situation?
Experiences from different countries reveal that the presidents, the prime ministers, and the ministers encourage the students by participating with the students at classroom. They share ideas and inspire the future citizens. They never appear in a mere cosmetic photo shoot events with the poor people to woo the voters. The mind set matters, people copy elected representatives and their statements in a press. The allegations and counter allegations over opposition to suppress is observed and copied by the students too.
Our leaders impart the education of hatred and reprimand. Education does not mean only learning from the classroom. Students learn from the society through newspapers, home, schools, and colleges. The personal issues of elected representatives are aired through press and they become news to the student. The need of writing this book starts from the gamut of issues prevailing at different stages of education, as a need is felt for paradigm shift to elevate the situation for betterment of our society. Every stage, sector and event of life require appropriate awareness through education. It is not merely a four wall or bell and bill education that works, a holistic reform in all the spheres that alter the fate of our nation.
All of us know that the present education could not uplift the one third of poverty ridden or farming citizens at large. There is necessity of paradigm shift to distribute the fruits of democracy to all. An attempt is made to understand the micro level functions of the educational system and the influence of destructive emotions to pave the way towards development. The issues related to the common people are covered. There is a necessity of education to understand life in a holistic way right from birth to death at single place. The possible solutions are given to the needy people. I sincerely thank all those who are striving to make a society of high values and absolutely corruption free.
– Mahmood Ali.