The COVID- 19 pandemic has unleashed the humongous calamity that humanity has ever faced. As I analyse and decipher thoughts, feelings, reactions and responses that are being displayed on Social media, digital and print media, I have been contemplating on the fact if the pandemic has only made us think and behave with anxiety or rationale.
Education being one of the prime catalyst in the building of a future India seems to be under the radar, leading to worriment, angst, apprehension and uneasiness. The foremost foundation of education is to remove darkness, doubt and dubiety. Education is the pivot on which the future of a generation lies, the base on which a country’s economic and global growth flourishes.
As a progressive country, we need to focus on causing least disruption to the consistency of education. Education has a large scale implication on our future readiness and lifestyle costs. Our country has to wake up to the need of the hour, the power of resilience and flexibility.
E- Education is no child’s play and the efforts made by teachers to conduct such like classes are incomparable to the physical classroom. Our teachers are role modelling the essence of education and we as parents and the society need to support this endeavour. Our National Education Policy has emphasised on the Right to Education to every child of this country and the need of Early Years Education.
It is time we focus on the relevance of keeping our child’s mind active, engaged and developmental rather than a mind that idles amidst the scepticism of the community.
While we need to protect ourselves from the deadly virus, the ability to face the situation with safety, protection, grit and determination will help us educate our children, on skills that are taught through the most difficult experiences of life.
Let us allow our teachers to reach out to our students, instil psychic and spiritual strength to deal with the crisis that COVID -19 has led to. Let us not get bogged down with thoughts of opposing any thought process of educational institutions, which builds the self- esteem and character of a child. Stigmatising institutions is not the response of a progressive country. We have produced the best of scholars and noted professionals who have changed the world we live in, all to our advantage. Closure of Schools will hinder progress that will be impossible to refurbish. Working together with Schools in acknowledging their expertise and the difference they make is an inevitable path to the success of dealing with the COVID- 19 pandemic. It is time to work together towards meaningful education and the know- how of the art of living rather than debating on the pros and cons of e- education. Allow our gurus to nurture true creators of the almighty. Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Maheshwara, Guru sakshat, param Brahma, tasmai shri guravay namah Our creation is that guru (Brahma-the force of creation); the duration of our lives is that guru (Vishnu-the force of preservation); our trials, tribulations, illnesses, calamities and the death of the body is that guru (devo Maheshwarathe force of destruction or transformation). There is a guru nearby (Guru Sakshat) and a guru that is beyond the beyond (param Brahma). I make my offering (tasmai) to the beautiful (shri) remover of my darkness, my ignorance; (Guru) it is to you I bow and lay down my life (namah).
Dr. N.VIJAYA KUMAR
Chairman
National Centre For Excellence