The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Value-based education need of the hour
S.S. Verma

Looking at the present growth of civilisation, it seems that society has failed somewhere in imparting non-formal and formal education to its masses. We might have developed materially but not mentally. Mental development about life, death, happiness, sorrow, moral and our usefulness to society is lacking in the people. There is a great need to equip present education being imparted to children with values of life in order to make them good human beings. With the changing mindset of humanity towards materialistic approach at the cost of others is posing a great concern for the survival of civilisation in the times to come. The present education system has groomed people for a legendary appetite for need-based knowledge and tuned us to feast on success. Today’s education only plunges people enthusiastically into actions to create an image larger that the life. Emphasis on materialistic value presents a distorted face of capitalism. Despite technological advancement, the truth is that all our economic growth can no longer be viewed as the ideal way of reconciling material progress with equity. This is just to remind that without even an iota of material gain there are such moments in our life when we experience a blissful state. Society is witnessing a loss of moral compass along with symptoms like growing cynicism, hatredness towards others, moral decline in private and public life, increased isolation, increase of violence, greed, racism and many more.

Education without values is not beneficial to anyone. Education devoid of values may be detrimental to society in the long run. The study of moral and ethical values that makes us a perfect man is value-based educated. Values bring quality and meaning to life and give a person his identity and character. Children imbibe values all the time from their parents, teachers and peers. But it is also necessary that we deliberately teach them the right values right from their childhood. What they learn at this tender age stays with them all through their life. Hence importance should be given to imparting a value-based spiritual education. Hence, inoculation and inoculation of value-based education among children at home, school and community levels can play a great role in developing them as better human beings.

Our children are our wealth and how we guide and train them, can make or mar their future. Therefore, they (children) must have the best possible education, where the physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual development will take place along with teaching a basic awareness and appreciation of our culture, which in turn will foster a holistic personality development. Gaining mastery over the mind is real education. Today’s children are the future of our country and it is our responsibility to mould them to face the world with love, courage and self-reliance so that the future generations will be more honest and upright, less-self-centered. Holding on to the age-old traditions, beliefs and values passed down to us is the only way to protect our children from a self-destructive lifestyle to face life. It is full of challenges and to accomplish it is essential to empower ourselves first with good values.

Nothing can match the blessedness of being a human with qualities like infinite love and compassion. No experience of child undergoes is inconsequential; each experience leaves a long-lasting impression on his or her psyche. Therefore, above bookish knowledge, practical value-based education can only be imparted to a growing child in the value-based lifestyle of his elders at home, school and in community. Value-based education should emphasise the all-round development of each child’s potential: mental, physical, spiritual and social. The atmosphere around the child should provide a training ground for learning the art and science of right living and selfless service, and allow the children’s inner potential to unfold. Children should be motivated to develop a responsible attitude towards themselves, their school, and society at large. Science of living and meditation classes must be conducted at all levels. Sanskrit chants, bhajan and yoga should also be integrated into the education. They should be provided with the most conducive atmosphere in which to develop such qualities as obedience, humility, compassion, righteousness, fortitude, optimism, self-confidence, fearlessness and patriotism.

In ancient times, students were taught what life was really about. They were taught how to live their lives and to conduct themselves in the world. They developed strong minds and could easily withstand hardships or face any obstacles. They were dedicated to truth and were not afraid of death. The coming time will give a new thrust and dimension to value education and values will become the backbone of education. The long-lasting magical and powerful aphorisms, which were an integral part of education in ancient times, must be taught to children. The values they convey are etched deeply in the innocent minds, which no doubt would act as eye-openers for them in future when are forced to face difficult circumstances in life.

Kerala papers turn to new blood
Sanu George

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalam dailies in Kerala seem to be pegging their hopes on new blood to boost circulation and revenues.

The trend began with Rashtra Deepika, the owners of Deepika, one of the oldest newspapers in Kerala.

The group raised eyebrows in the media when it roped in 35-year-old Bobby Nair, the Kerala correspondent of NDTV who has no previous experience in print, to join as Executive Editor of Deepika. He was given wide-ranging executive powers and also a fat paycheque till then reportedly unheard of in the business in Kerala.

"Here in my new post I have a huge challenge ahead of me and I see the appointment as the stiffest one in my career," an upbeat Nair said.

Nair is also the first non-Christian Executive Director for a long time in a newspaper once controlled by the Catholic church.

Then came the surprise appointment of P. Rajiv, another journalist in his mid-30s, as head of the editorial division of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) organ Desabhimani.

Currently the Ernakulam district secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, the CPM’s youth wing, Rajiv was appointed in succession to E.M. Sreedharan, the late Resident Editor of the paper.

Sreedharan was the son of legendary Communist E.M.S. Namboothiripad.

"This is the first time that our paper has made such an appointment. I don’t know what journalistic experience he has," said a sceptical senior Desabhimani journalist.

Malayalam Manorama, the number one newspaper in Kerala, also saw two sons of the paper’s owners take charge of crucial positions. Both are in their early 30s and have worked for international newspapers.

Veteran journalist Babu Bhaskar welcomed these appointments.

"What is to be seen is whether these changes are done with professionalism in mind. All these years what has been happening here is superficial attempts at professionalism. I hope the new attempts are different," Bhaskar said.

"Here (in Kerala) the owners double up as editors. The feudal hangover is still there. If that does not change, no amount of infusion of young blood would have the desired result." IANS

QUERY HOTLINE

Q I am a student of electronics engineering. Could you please tell me something about the scope of avionics and whether it is taught in India?

Kuldeep Singh

A Avionics is all about designing and operating of electronic systems, circuitry and components in aircraft, missiles and satellites.

A vital branch of electronics, avionics has many sub areas like avionic architecture, aircraft control and guidance, electronic warfare. It also offers immense scope for higher studies and research.

The Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai-600044 (affiliated to Anna University) offers ME (Avionics) which is an inter-disciplinary programme integrating concepts and techniques from the field of aeronautics, electronic and instrumentation.

The objective of the programme is to generate high quality trained manpower needed for avionics labs and industry, both in the defence as well as the civilian sectors. It provides training to fresh graduates and practising engineers.

This programme admits two categories of candidates:

(1) Regular candidates with GATE scores.

(2) Those without GATE qualification are admitted on the basis of the Non-GATE entrance exam conducted by Anna University.

The necessary qualification is BE/BTech or equivalent degree either in electronics and communication, instrumentation, aeronautics, computer sciences and engineering or electrical and electronics engineering. Outstanding candidates admitted to this course can apply for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) fellowship and Aeronautics Research and Development Board (AR&DB) fellowship which offers enhanced financial support and job assurance in the DRDO.

Those working in industry / R and D (public or private) deputed by their organisation on a full-time basis for the duration (2-years) of the course can also apply. They should have passed their qualifying exam (1st div) in the specified fields within the last 10 years. They are selected on the basis of an interview conducted by a selection committee specially constituted for this purpose by Anna University. For details, log on to: www.mitindia.edu/avionics.htm.

BE, MBBS

Q I am a student of Class XII (PCBM). Could you please tell me whether girls should study BE or MBBS? This will help many like me take a right decision. What is the prevailing statistics of women in these careers?

Vinay Khanna

A Making a career decision is not the easiest thing in the world. But please don’t let mere statistics guide your choice of career. Numbers don’t count. Your calibre does. While there may be relatively fewer women in the traditional branches of engineering like civil or mechanical which involve working outdoors, on site, or on the factory shop floor, there are any number of hot-shot electronics and computer engineers who are women. And the same goes with doctors.

Both medicine as well as engineering, are top-of-the-line professional courses which leads me to believe that you are keen on pursuing a professional career. It is therefore very important to go by your interests, aptitude and inclination rather than conforming to outdated beliefs and assumptions. Which is certainly not to belittle certain practical considerations. For instance, if you are really keen on medicine but don’t savour the prospect of being on call round-the-clock, you may opt for fields like dentistry, ophthalmology, dermatology, plastic surgery, etc, which pose fewer emergencies. Of course you must be prepared to endure the comparatively long duration of study that specialisation and super specialisation in medicine entails.

But do also consider this very obvious fact: if women continue to opt for the typical soft options that women have been traditionally pursuing, they’re bound to remain confined to conventional age-old stereotypes.

GATE

Q I have completed BSc and cleared my DOEACC "B" Level exam. I am keen to do M.Tech in computers from a good engineering college. Am I eligible to take GATE? No one is able to give me a satisfactory reply.

Manpreet Kaur

A I have some good news for you and hundreds of others like you who are confused on this score. DOEACC ‘B’ students are eligible to take GATE. And I have the Vice-Chairman, GATE’s word for it.

For the syllabus and other details, log on to: www.iitk.ac.in/gate . Please note that the papers are now fully objective-type.

You can submit your forms online.

Moreover, candidates with qualifications obtained through exams conducted by professional societies recognised by the UPSC/ AICTE as equivalent to B.E/B.Tech and those who have completed Section A or equivalent of such professional courses are also eligible.

Please send in your query preferably on a postcard along with your name, complete address and academic qualifications to:

Editor, Query Hotline,
The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160020, or at careerguide@tribuneindia.com

FORTNIGHTLY QUIZ-176

1. Which organisation has been given the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2002 in recognition of its contribution for the spread of education and cultural values among all religions and communities?

2. Name the two Indians who have been named Asia’s Businessmen of the Year 2003 by international business magazine Fortune.

3. With which country’s collaboration has India developed its long-range supersonic cruise missile Brahmos?

4. Which research satellite of the country was recently named after astronaut Kalpana Chawla?

5. How many crew members are aboard the International Space Station (ISS) at present?

6. In which Indian state were oil and gas reserves, estimated to be about 20 million tonnes, recently discovered by a British oil company?

7. Which state in the country tops in the number of telephone subscribers, including fixed lines, WLL and cellular connections?

8. In which year did the first wireless transmission between the USA and Europe take place?

9. Expand BRO.

10. Name the planes of the Indian Air Force (IAF) that displayed dazzling aerobatic formations at the fourth Indian Aero Show in Bangalore recently?

11. Who was given this year’s prestigious Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial Award for his contribution in the field of science and technology?

12. What is the capital of Brunei?

13. Who has written the theme song for the cricket World Cup 2003?

14. Name the two countries apart from South Africa that are holding the cricket World Cup 2003.

15. How many countries are competing in the cricket World Cup 2003?

Name........................Class......

School address.....................

Winners of quiz 175: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Sudhanshu Arya, XII, CAK FM Sr Sec School, Sector IV, Naya Nangal, district Ropar, Pin-140126.

Second: Shilpa Nag, XI, DAV Public School, Narwana (Yol), district Kangra (HP).

Third: Neetu Saini, IX-B, Shahid Ganj Public School, Mudki, district Ferozepur-142060.

Answers to quiz 175: Sushil Kumar Shinde; Suresh Chand Yadav; Serena Williams; France; Harivansh Rai Bachchan; Hans Blix; Giovanni Agnelli; Airports Authority of India; Jammu & Kashmir; Berne; Telecom Regulatory Authority of India; West Indies; Andre Agassi; Leander Paes&Martina Navratilova; Darren Lehmann.

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address.

— Tarun Sharma