Education is not only about focusing on academic performance but also building the moral character of the learners. Students are forced to memorize information but are not encouraged to learn how to ask questions. They are told to shut their mouths as learners even if they have questions. Some teachers say haughtily that they do not need to learn anything from students. Education should be a two-way traffic, not a singular monologue. One of my student's friends was fond of asking questions in the class in his collegebut the teacher got frustrated one day and said he had seen many students who could not achieve anything by asking questions. Thus, students feel disheartened to ask questions in the learning sessions.
Students' enthusiasm should be encouraged to grow and flourish. Their confidence level should not be curtailed. They should be told how to write in their own words. Memorization kills creativity in learners. They are forced to memorize different concepts but are not given the option to redefine them from their perspectives. They are not told to critique reading materials. They are supposed to agree with the statements produced by intellectuals. In ourcurrent education system, students will not be able to develop critical points of view.
Examinations are designed to evaluate our learning abilities. Instead of making us true learners, conventional exams drain our souls. The panic-stricken examinees get caught in the Gordian knot of time-bound tests. Learning should be a real pleasure for the students. Everyone is put through the same tunnel to reach the same destination. Learners should be encouraged to develop an authentic interest in the subjects they have to study. Rather they are put under the steamroller of subjects without connection with their lives. Since they must memorize everything they read, they also start memorizing mathematical equations. The students' lives are turned into a hellhole by this academic structure.Students rarely have sweet memories of the study materials. Many students get nervous breakdowns due to the pressure of examinations. One of our senior brothers skipped one academic year because of severe nervousness. Another of my acquaintances could not muster the courage to enter the exam hall and he returned home. In such cases, the examinees are blamed for their mental disturbances. Examinations become the crucible of young life. Students sometimespass out due to the pressure put on them and they have sleepless nights because of academic stress.
If students are not good at mathematics, they should not be put under the guillotine to excel. In our country mathematics remains a nightmare for most students. Students are looked down upon if their mathematical skills are not up to scratch. Arithmetic and geometry remain an acid test for them. They blame themselves for being dull in this subject. However,theydo not realize that the education system should be blamed for shoving mathematics down their throats. Students hate themselves for these unpalatable subjects. Young students should not be burdened with the Pythagorean theorem made popular by Pythagoras in his forties. The problem with the education system is that it tries to turn everyone into future hard scientists. Life has many things to offer that the system does not want to acknowledge. Moreover, instead of making every subject mandatory, students at the school level should be given options to choose subjects of interest.
What shall we learn by solving a mathematical problem of a monkey and an oily bamboo pole? This is simply ridiculous. We have no right to spoil the life of the learners. Many students commit suicide if they fail in public examinations. They could contribute positively to society if the authorities did not victimize them by imposing a dictatorial grading system. Parents also sing along to the tune set by the system. They demoralize their children by making derogatory comments about their academic performance. We must realize that everyone will not be a physician or an engineer. We must come out of this funneled vision.
“Plagiarism is promoted when some instructors do not entertain the
thoughts shared by students in written exams. Rather, they tell students
to reproduce what is written in books without acknowledging the source.
In social science, students should be trained and encouraged to develop
their thoughts after reading various books and articles and linking
those with their observations and real-life experiences”
Thousands of occupations are waiting for the students other than the popular ones. Students should be given the freedom to choose their majors at the tertiary level. Many students pursue majors chosen by their parents. The parents' unfulfilled dreams are imposed on the students. A monotonous curriculum produces pressure during the examination. Students do not feel engaged with the subject under study due to the uninteresting topics. Education should be channeled towards learning through entertainment. It is not sought to explore the world with an inquisitive mind.It unfortunately has become tantamount to finding jobsonly after graduation.
Plagiarism is promoted when some instructors do not entertain the thoughts shared by students in written exams. Rather, they tell students to reproduce what is written in books without acknowledging the source. In social science, students should be trained and encouraged to develop their thoughts after reading various books and articles and linking those with their observations and real-life experiences. Otherwise, we will end up with academic zombies without the ability to question theories and concepts.
To materialize the idea of holistic education, there should be a course on how to be better human beings. Instead of focusing only on developing different academic skills, they should also be told not to be self-centred individuals. They should be encouraged to think in terms of collective well-being. People who are hungry or in need of help should not be overlooked. If we fail to develop humane qualities in future generations, they may turn into meritorious monsters.
Ethical education is another important dimension of academic training. Students should be told to stay away from bribery and interest. Speed money creates a huge burden on service recipients. If we want to get rid of bribery, we must invest our efforts in helping new generations steer clear of such malpractice. Young minds should be trained to be ready to dump this corrupt culture. The future of our nation depends on the ethical orientation of students against speed money. Moreover, they should be made ethically sound so that they do not adopt unfair means in the examination hall.
There should be another course on rekindling a connection with nature. In the pursuit of academic degrees, we get detached from the natural environment. As part of the course, students should walk on grass, touch leaves and bark to feel the growth of trees.In this journey, smartphones should be left behind at home. A wholesome relationship with other animals should be emphasized. This is not about promoting a romantic idea of nature. It is a strong reminder that we are not robots but part of nature. An important component of the course could be mental stress management through the silent absorption of greenery. In some of these sessions, everyone will remain silent to find the missing link with nature. Although the idea of holistic education sounds ambitious, the bright future of the world lies in its implementation as soon as possible.
The writer is a faculty member of the Anthropology Programme at Independent University Bangladesh
