Education – The catalyst of changing the world – By Hilda D’silva Kallianpur.

kallianpurdotcom : 12/05/23

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”

 – Nelson Mandela

Yes, as the great freedom fighter and visionary Nelson Mandela opined, education is a weapon, a weapon to change the world, a catalyst which can work wonders. A few thoughts on educating our children, our role as the mentors and animators shaping the destiny of our youth. “Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself” says John Dewey. It is education and education alone which makes life worth living.

Education is not just schooling, making people just literates. Education is very different from literacy. It is a matter to weigh and analyse when the results of students show 100/100 marks awarded in different subjects. Are students that perfect to fully master a subject and get 100 %? These very students, without humiliating anyone, can be utter failures in society tomorrow. As a person proficient in the field of education can I ask our teachers, our educationists what is the quality of our education? Where are we heading to? How diluted is our academic structure? As teachers, what criteria do you follow to allot 100% to a student in Hindi, Sanskrit, Business Studies, English etc? True education is not rote learning. It is creative, analytical learning enabling children to reason out, to enjoy knowledge available not only within the four walls of the classroom but in their neighborhood and in society.

True education starts from the womb of the mother. Thats why parents talk to the foetus, play music, create a happy environment. Children are blank cheques in the hands of parents. It is very important to create child centric homes with parents always conversing with the infants, playing with them, reading, telling bedtime stories. Learning at home, observation, morals of stories combined with lots of love and importance from parents form the personality of little children. 

Conducive environment for learning, imparting knowledge to children needs some decisions on the part of parents. 

• Our small children should be given the impression that they are the most important, more important than career or money
• Parents should decide on the school and the medium of instruction
• It is upto the parents to sit with children after school and supervise, Please dont harp in writing, reading etc at a very early age. Your child isn’t a machine.
• Though parents feel they are not upto the mark, they are the right people to understand the learning difficulties of children. If in doubt, consult experts in the field of education.
• Physical and metal health of children is the priority. If you suddenly observe mood changes, poor performance in your children, counselling is essential.
• Children need motivators. Let them see in their parents a dream to educate, to motivate. It is great to talk to the children about achievers in education and career building. 
• Very important aspect of education is extra-curricular activities, hobbies for the children. Music, Dance, Art, Sport, Public speaking enrich the personality of children.
• Any small achievement by children should be very much appreciated and praised. Children need appreciation from parents.
• Whatever may be your job, career or pressing need, children come first. So attending parent-teacher meetings, annual days, visits to schools are a priority. Good relation with teachers makes parents understand children better.
• Discipline and time table for children, though a difficult task, if imposed bring success. You will see well balanced, learned adults in your children performing well in society in later years.

Real challenge comes into family life when children enter high school and college. These children are teenagers with physical, emotional and mental changes, often fighting with parents and spending time with friends. They easily get dissuaded, prone to anxiety, despair, restlessness and lack of interest. Parents at this juncture have to exert self control and lots of patience.

• Teenagers cannot be forced to fulfill their parents ‘ expectations. If your son or daughter does not have any aptitude towards Maths, Physics, Chemistry etc, can you expect him/her to become a doctor or engineer or computer analyst?
• Career counseling just before SSLC is the need of the hour. Parents and teachers jointly need to organize career counseling.
• Whatever the teenagers study, they should enjoy the subjects to some extent. Open discussion between children and parents can yield fruit when it is selection of subjects. There was a time when science subjects were considered superior. We are in a global village with ample opportunities for youth to build their careers selecting any subject of interest.
• Choice of institutions for higher studies should be planned in advance and also preparation for competitive exams. 
• Under any circumstances money should not be an issue for not educating the child. Education is the best investment in your children.
• Never compare your child or youth with his/her friends regarding academics. There are thousands who have reached the pinnacle of success with little education.

Finally with the advancement in media and social networking, the challenge to control and motivate children is much more than before. It is for the parents to observe the gadgets in the hands of children, to converse and guide, to restrict and control. The task is gigantic but worth the effort for 

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world” – Malala

Parents are teachers