What is the purpose of education? When I reflect and answer this, I think it is to create individuals who are aware, thinking, sensitive, confident, have questioning minds, reason, analyse, look for solutions, are independent, able to make their choices with responsibility and respect themselves and those around them. If this is the true purpose, the next question that comes to my mind is that should education and educators come together as an industry or as a community?
Ever now and then we hear about a new school with better infrastructure, better technology and world class facilities. Banners of an upcoming school displayed in the markets, malls, distribution of brochures and colourful advertisements in newspapers! Education has become a very lucrative industry and schools are competing with each other to be at the number one position. Some popular schools even go to the extent of identifying their market by having tie ups with super specialty hospitals to get the data of newly born babies. Educational institutes want to create an international brand image. Many parents look at an international school for their child as a status symbol.
In such a giving and noble field such as education, competition does not exist! Educational institutes should create a difference through their teaching practices, keeping the needs of children at the center of everything. Educational institutes should look at each other as partners and share their practices with each other. Regular exchange programmes to learn from each other and visits of teachers to different schools to observe and learn from their practices can be organised. Team members with expertise in various areas can be invited by institutes to interact with their teachers. Work in an educational institute has to be seen as an involvement and not as a job - we are investing in our future generation.
If it is for the benefit, well being and happiness of our children, we are all winners!!
