TEZPUR, Dec 12 - �The education system of a country is based on the major aspects planned for its development. Based on issues like the type of citizens the nation expects its people to be, how is the nation expected to progress, what are its long-term policies etc., � all these factors go into the way the education policy of a nation is shaped.� This was observed by noted academician, professor of the Department of English, Tezpur Central University Dr Madan Sharma while delivering a lecture as the chief speaker of the eight Narendra Dev Sastri memorial lecture programmes organized by the Sonitpur Press Club on Thursday at the Tezpur College conference hall here.
Pointing out the defects in the education system, which have failed to give proper education to the children, he stated that modern education has minimal concern for human values. It has become a mere professional ground to convert man into a money-making machine. It triggers the sense of competition to acquire position and money. The result is the erosion of moral values in society. The present-day education system has to bear the responsibility for restlessness in man, terrorism, corruption, social irresponsibility and such related evils.
Pleading for a serious change in the objectives of education, the noted educationist further said, �Education should reassert its great responsibility of inculcating values in man. A new revolution should bring a change in the present education system and prepare itself to bring out the complete man with noble qualities and necessary skills to be self-dependent and useful to the society.�
Criticizing the concerned policy makers in the field of education, he also pointed out that in 2001 there were nine crore children in the age group of 14 to 18 years in India. Of this, only three crore children went to school and this scene is yet to be change. Stating that the education system in our country has totally failed to build human resources, Dr Sharma further said that the political leaders or the so-called rulers always want a discrimination in the education system. �Privatization of education, alleged discrimination in it etc., have affected the overall social system. At a time when a section is seen vibrantly busy in establishing privately run-costly educational institutions, many budding talents in rural areas are being deprived of proper educational facility or environment only because of unwanted discrimination,� he alleged.
�We respect Gandhi or Nehru but we never follow their ideology. It is seen that though great personalities like Gandhiji and Nehru said that a child should be given education in the mother tongue, we the so-called aware guardians are not doing that, rather we are always seriously concerned with how we can send our children to an expensive English medium school,� he said adding that as per the Mudaliar Commission report, the aims and objectives of education should be democratic citizenship.
Democratic citizenship will thrive discipline, cooperation, social sensibility and tolerance will prosper. He further added that education should combine the scientific knowledge reflecting discipline the intellect, nourish fellow-feeling and develop social responsibility. �We have to stress on the system of education which can transform the wholesome personality of the students and prepare them to lead a better life as responsible and useful citizens, who can contribute to the welfare of the society thereby developing great levels of insight and moulding them as balanced individuals, who can understand and make use of the great energy that flows from their inner spirit.
�The present educational system is polluting the social organism with narrowness and crookedness. Education cannot be gained by merely mastering reading, writing and arithmetic. What is learnt in the books must be confirmed and corrected by practising it in social life. Then only learning is transformed into true education.�
Earlier, welcoming the gathering, the president of the Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, Hemanta Kumar Baruah spoke on the importance of the day and spoke on the unmatched contributions of Late Narendra Dev Sastri towards the society. The event held under the aegis of president of the Sonitpur Press Club and noted social worker Subhas Biswas was attended by the Principal of Tezpur College, Dr Saru Saharia Nath, faculties and students of the college HoD, Department of Political Science, Dr Pranjit Hazarika, daughter of Late Narendra Dev Sastri, Himadri Sarma, noted educationist, ex-controller of examination, Tezpur University, Dr Bhubaneswar Saharia and office bearers of different social organizations.
In the programme, a total of eight persons including noted farmer and social worker, Kabul Sarma, noted actor playwright Arpan Bezbaruah, noted litterateur and social worker Mrinali Chetia, Durga Prasad Upadhyai, Amarnath Upadhyai, Laksmiprashad Parajuli, Dr Lalu Prashad Upadhyai and Prof Gita Upaidhyai having contribution towards the society in their respective fields were felicitated with sarai, phulam gamosa, seleng sador and citation.
