THOUGHTS OF A P J ABDUL KALAM IN EDUCATION AND ITS SOCIAL RELEVANCE

THOUGHTS OF A P J ABDUL KALAM IN EDUCATION AND ITS SOCIAL RELEVANCE

Asha T. S. (No. 26, Mathematics)

INTRODUCTION

This assignment deals with Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam’s concept of education and its relevance. Education is bound up with human race.  Its boundaries are as wide as those at life. Its implications are rich and varied. Just as it is difficult to squeeze life in a few words, is the same way it is difficult to give a single meaning or definition of education.

The writers and philosophers are the actual teachers who often express their ideas for the benefits of the society. Education cannot be separated from life and people having different outlooks understand the life from different angles of vision. Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam is to be looked at within his cultural background this total rural citizen from the far end of India, Rameshwaram, coming from a boatman’s family goes up to heights because of his sheer brilliance combined with simplicity of the highest and a rare sense of uncommon humility. In fact he is a remarkable thinker of the highest order.

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam has many facets to his life. He is the ‘Missile Man’ for some. He has earned the sobriquets 200% Indian. He is ‘dreamer’ for other. For children he is the wings of inspiration to spread the flow of goodness.  Keeping in mind the let us reflect on the educational thoughts of our Great Scientists, India’s pride, Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Avul Pakir Jinlabdeen Abdul Kalam usually referred as Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. He is an   Aerospace Engineer, professor and chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and technology. During his time as president, he was popularly known as “the people’s President” Dr. Kalam has constantly contributes his thoughts on education.

KALAM’S CONCEPT OF EDUCATION

According to Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam (2006), the education system has a tremendous responsibility to transform a child is to a leader- the transformation from ‘what can you do for me’ to ‘what can I do for you?’ The most important part of education is inculcating in the students the spirit of ‘we can do it’. Education is an endless journey- through knowledge and enlightenment. Real education enhances the dignity of a human being and increases his- or her self- respect   and universal brotherhood in its true sense becomes the sheet anchor for such education. The following are the burning problems of education in most of the countries of the world.

1.                  To correlate education with the problems of life.

2.                  To democratize education.

3.                  To cope with the problems arising out of the modern scientific and technical advancement

4.                  To make education adequately efficient.

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam often says that education is drawing out and developing creativity inherent in students. Education, according to Dr. Kalam, is a fundamental right of every Indian child. He emphasizing that education is a pillar of a developed and a powerful country, besides the most important element for growth and prosperity of a nation. Dr. Kalam believes that education is the most important area of service sector as it provides the required knowledge and skill to do any work.

DR.KALAM’S PERSPECTIVE AIMS ON EDUCATION

“Mission of Education”, according to Dr. Kalam (2006), “is the foundation to ensure the creation of enlightened-citizens who will make a prosperous, happy and strong nation”. To quote him, “When learning is purposeful creativity blossoms, when creativity blossoms Thinking emanates. When Thinking emanates, Knowledge is fully lit. When knowledge is lit, Economy flourishes.”

According to Dr. Kalam education system should retain the smiles of children. This can happen if the education system is made creative throughout and full employment is provided to all.

Dr. Kalam lists the main aims of education are as follows:-

1.                  To build character and to cultivate human values in students.

2.                  To inject creativity and to develop scientific attitude with spiritual foundation

3.                  To enhance learning capacity  through technology

4.                  To build confidence among children to face to future

5.                  To ensure the creation of enlightened citizens took make the nation prosperous happy and strong

6.                  To develop capacity for research and enquiry among students.

7.                  To unfold innovating powers and entrepreneurship

8.                  To develop moral leadership

9.                  To make the country energy independent

10.              To develop the sense of dignity, self-respect and self-reliance     among students

THE EDUCATION THOUGHTS OF DR.A.P.J ABDUL                KALAM

Education is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment. Focus of the education and schools must provide mission oriented learning with value system.

Childhood is the foundation stone upon which stands the whole life structure as the seeds sown in childhood blossom in to the tree of life. Education which is imparted in childhood at the every stage of development of minds is more important than the education received in college and university.

Education nurtures the child’s curiosity about the environment and integrates the thinking process with the skills of hand limb and body. Twelve years of value based education in the school campus are essential to establish an open and transparent society. Emphasis should be on exploration, innovativeness and creativity through activities. At the secondary stage, emphasis should be on experiments, problem solving and team work. All levels of education should ensure the convergence of bio-info-nano-eco education.

Curriculum:  The concept of curriculum according the Dr. Kalam, includes: nano-science biotechnology, IT, Industries and development of creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and management skills among students other than the regular subjects of study. Universities should become facilitators for creating entrepreneurship and should introduce a ‘syllabus of entrepreneurship’ co-ordination and spiritualism and education, the lessons of truth, path of righteousness, service towards others and faith in God should be included in the curriculum.

Religion and Spiritualism: Religion is a belief in super man controlling power ‘spirit’: is the most and are attained essential part of religious. The aim of religions is to left the threw of human beings towards this summit. In spite of external difference, an inner unit prevails in religions. The universal charter of universal human values is inherent in all religions.

Man’s spiritual nature is the very essence of his being. According to the ancient Indian philosophy, the ultimate aim of education is self realization. This is the state when the ultimate identification of the individual self with the absolute takes place. Spiritual education enables the individual to explore the area of the self and the means by which the self is readied and how liberation, glory and are attained.

Imparting moral values: The right kind of education on moral values will upgrade the society and the country. After every child is nurtured during the early years with love and affection and when he reaches- a school- going age he needs a value based education. The prime learning period for a child is from six to seventeen years of age. Hence, the school hours for children are the best environment and mission-oriented learning with value based educational system.

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful mind, the three key societal members who can make a difference are father, mother and teacher. Mother gives the principle of truth. One you start giving the right direction to the minds of the children, character building emanates within the family. “I will make my home a righteous home” should be the motto of each and every child and every parent.

It is essential that schools and colleges arrange a lecture by a great teacher of the institution once a week for one hour on Indian’s civilization heritage. This class can be called moral science class. This will elevate heritage. This class can be called a moral science class. This will elevate the young mind to love the country to love other human beings and elevate the young to higher planes.

THOUGHTS ON CHILDREN

Children are our greatest wealth. Each child born in the nation allowed to blossom. It is particularly important to provide extra care and facilities to the children including those who are not fortunate to have their families to look after them. This noble service should be promoted by all individuals and government organizations, leading to the development of enlightened citizens who will become an asset for national development.

OATH FOR STUDENTS

·                     I will pursue my education with dedication and I will exceed in it.

·                     I will plant at least five sampling and shall ensure their growth through constant care.

·                     I will constantly endeavour to remove the pain of my suffering brethren.

·                     I will work for becoming an enlightened citizen and make my family righteous.

·                     I will always be a friend of the mentally and physically challenged and will work hard to make them feel normal like the rest of use.

·                     I promise that I will work hard with honesty to transform my  

·                     country into a developed country

Retaining the smiles of children: When we look at small children they are always smiling. When they start going to primary school carrying a big bag on their shoulders, the smile reduces. When the reach secondary school, the smile further reduces and during the higher secondary course, the virtually vanishes.

Can we make an education system which will retain the smiles on the faces of our children throughout the period of their education? Creativity in the education system can be promoted by reducing the theoretical burden at the primary level, progressively increasing it at the secondary level, and finally leading to higher level teaching and creation of self-reliance among students to undertake entrepreneurship and be employment generators rather than employment seekers.

At the primary stage, education must nurture the child’s curiosity about the environment and integrate the thinking process with the skill of hand, limb and body. Primary education needs revamping of the syllabus, the teaching methods and the examination system, so that children’s creativity is kindled and allowed to grow. Emphasis should be on exploration, innovativeness and creativity through activities. At the secondary stage emphasis should be on experiments, problem solving and team work.While class room learning is important what the child learns by self observation outside the class room is equally important. A child must become an active participant in the process of learning through observation. To achieve these schools must move from being educational centers to becoming knowledge and skill centers.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN EDUCATION

                 Parent has an important role in the education of their children and in making them enlightened citizen. They must be aware of the need for good education for the child. Parent should set an example for the child by their overall behavior and conduct. The will enable the child to develop love and respect for the parents and see them as role models.  They should also create an atmosphere for the child to ask questions elicit answer and freely communicate with them.

Young people use substances because they satisfy issues related to adolescent development. These needs include taking risks, demonstrating independence, developing values, distinct from parents and other authorities,, signaling entry in to a peer group, seeking novel and exciting experiences, satisfying curiosity. This time their parents have to pour their parental love, be watchful and see any pattern change in their behavior of the son or daughter. As their first instance when they notice the change, they have to start discussing with the child various problems and enhance the day-to-day communication with the child.

Parents must also find procedure channeling of the energy of the child to healthy games and sports, fine arts such as painting, music, dance etc and participation in socially relevant activities apart from the main task of studies. In essence parents have to ensure that the child is kept fully, physically and mentally occupied for nearly eighteen hours a day including the study period in the class. Parents must also have a mechanism to assess whether the child in this period is going to the class or not. Such pre-active step will definitely prevent the child from moving in a negative direction. When the child is empowered by the parents at various phases of growth, the child transforms in to a responsible citizen.

ROLE OF SCHOOL AND TEACHERS IN EDUCATION

 There are a few experimental models of education across the country that are working to promote creativity among children and sustain the student’s interest in learning and help reduce the dropout rate.

The teacher in the school has a great responsibility in shaping the character of the student especially during the adolescent periods. Any academic performance variation in the student must be the noticed and the counseling process must immediately commence. Also, the teacher must have patience to talk to the parents – and get some feedback about the behavior of the student at home. When the teacher is empowered with knowledge and experience, good young human beings with value systems take shape.

LITERACY MISSION

            The aim of the mission should be to   bring down the dropout rate at the elementary school, lower secondary and the higher secondary levels. This will enable us to achieve the goal of all the youth of Chhattisgarh to acquire minimum senior secondary qualification. For realizing this we have to start number of tribal schools. Also there will be need to mobilize the university students and the students of 11^th and 12^th classes to undertake teaching of people who  cannot read and write during holidays and vacations. Recently, the ministry of human resource development has launched a programme called “Sakshat”, a web based e-learning programme. Students of Chhattisgarh must be facilitated to learn through this programme by the provision of fast internet service both in urban and rural areas.

AN EDUCATION MODEL FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY

A good educational model is the need of n the curriculum. The hour to ensure that students grow to contribute towards the economic growth of the nation.

The entire education system has to be based on capacity building comprising five components: research and enquiry, creativity and innovation, capacity to use high-end technology, entrepreneurship and moral leadership.

Research and Enquiry: The 21st century is about the management of all the knowledge and information we have generated and the value addition that we can bring to it. We must give our students the skills with which they can find a way through the sea of knowledge that we have created and continue with lifelong learning. Today, we have the ability, through technology, to really and truly teach ourselves to become lifelong learners which is an important skill required for sustained economic development.

Creativity and Innovation: The amount of information that we have around us is overwhelming. When information is networked the power and utility of the information grows as squared as predicted by Metcalfe's law. The management of knowledge in the 21st century is beyond the capacity a single individual and must move out of e realm of the individual and shift into the of networked groups. Students must learn how to manage knowledge collectively.

Capacity to Use High-End Technology: All students should learn how to use the latest technologies for aiding their learning process. Universities should equip themselves with adequate computing equipment, laboratory equipment, and internet facilities and               provide an environment for the students to enhance their learning ability. In the midst of all the technological innovations and revolutions we cannot think that the roles of the teachers will. In fact, the teacher will become even more important and the whole world of education will become teacher assisted as technology would help in tele-porting the best teacher to every nook and corner of the country to propagate knowledge.

Entrepreneurship: The aptitude for entrepreneurship should be cultivated right from the beginning and continue all the way up to the university level. We must teach our students to take calculated risks for the sake of larger gain but within the ethos of good business. They should also cultivate a disposition to do things right. This capacity will enable them to take up challenging tasks later in life.

Moral leadership: Moral leadership involves two aspects. First, it requires the ability to have compelling and powerful dreams or visions of human betterment. Second, it requires a disposition to do the right things and influence others also to do the right things.

KALAM’S DREAM AND VISION

A nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony and education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination. A nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors and where the best of health care is available to all. A nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free and where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated. A nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path and one of the best places to live in and is poured of its leadership is the nation I see in 2020.”

CONCLUSION

Abdul Kalam, he is the only president- who has a lot of love for children and feels that the future of India lies in them. Today’s young students want the education system to feed and challenge their innovative and creative minds. Educational institutions have to year up to evolve a curriculum that is sensitive to the social and technological needs of a Developed India.

            Ultimately, education is its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment. Such a journey opens up new vistas of development of humanism where there is neither scope nor room for pettiness, disharmony, jealousy, hatred or enmity. It transforms a human being into a whole some whole, a noble soul and an asset to the universe. Real education enhances the dignity of human being and increases his or her self respect.

If only the real sense of   education could be realized by each individual and carried forward in every field of human activity the world will be so much a better place to live in. The relevance of dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam’s educational thoughts in the present school system was identified through administering the opinionative to the expert teacher educators and school teachers.

REFERENCES

Kalam Abdul,A.P.J.(1998) .India 2020-A Vision for the New Millennium. Penguin Books India Ltd.

Kalam Abdul,A.P.J.Ignited Minds. Penguin Books India Ltd.

Kalam Abdul,A.P.J.Wings of Fire. University Press.

Qurashi Faruqe. A  P J Abdul Kalam. Viajy Goel English- Hindi Publishers.

Kalam Abdul,A.P.J. Indominetable Spirit. Rajpal & Sons. 

Indian Science Congress 2006. Edutrack 2006.

Alex George.Thesis (A Study on the Educational Thoughts of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam and its Relevance in the Present Indian School System).

www.abdulkalam.com - retrieved on 21-12-2012.