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Today I saw a Marathi movie – UBUNTU. While I had planned another post today for writetribe the urge to write about the movie was such that I canceled the scheduled post and started writing this one. The movie is about a topic that I am passionate about – Education. I believe everyone should get some kind of education that will help them lead their life with dignity. I am not solely for bookish knowledge. Any work that can later get you a livelihood is education for me. But the choice to leave the school books and learn the skill should be the child’s choice and not a burden.

UBUNTU and the Patterns in Indian education system
UBUNTU movie poster

The movie UBUNTU starts with a school in a really small village where getting a meager 35 children to attend school is a big problem. The teacher is shown striving hard to keep the school running. As per the government guidelines a school with low attendance points towards non-enthusiasm of students to learn and hence the school will be shut and those interested in learning should go to the nearby village. While someone from a city might think logistically this arrangement makes sense and if parents really want their children to learn they will send the students to nearby village. The reality is not that simple.

Just a month back I was a part of conversation relating to schools in rural India and those discussions coupled with the movie put forth a Pattern. A vicious circle that needs to be attended to now, to have a future generation that is inquisitive, educated and visionaries. I personally know atleast three villages which are facing this problem of having to shut down the local primary school for lack of students.

  1. Most rural primary schools teach in vernacular language. Parents who can afford to send their children to the close-by towns prefer sending children to English medium schools.
  2. The students who do go to these local schools are children of really poor backgrounds and the only reason bringing them to school is their will, free meals and a hope that they might be able to create a better future as compared to their parents.
  3. The parents of these children are least interested in education as they believe after primary they will have to shell out money to educate the children, which they don’t have. They prefer having another farm hand instead of an educated, but useless family member.
  4. The education of maths and science for them is limited to daily calculation and street smartness.
  5. The parents who do know the importance of education, cannot afford to send the children far off. My maid doesn’t want to go back to her village as there is no school and she can’t send her small children to far off schools.
  6. The government can’t afford to spend on schools where there are no children.

So while all the adults think about logistics and economics, the children miss out on an independent and respectful future. Is it really necessary that our children only read, get good marks and become engineers, doctors or mathematicians? Don’t we need clever farmers, specialists in animal husbandry, poultry or florists? Why can’t the rural schools have freedom to decide their curriculum or part of curriculum that will also teach children life skills? Everyone might not be a scientist or a doctor but every child will have some skill that can be crafted. This way the parents will relate the education, to immediate source of livelihood and not wonder if education is necessary. Is it time we looked at alternate education systems developed by people like Sonam Wangchuk to keep our rural children in school?

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge 

 

38 Replies to “UBUNTU and the Patterns in Indian education system”

  1. Thoughtful and thought provoking post, Neha. Yes, we need to change the pattern of our existing education system. We need to nurture skills and talents and most importantly life skills.

  2. I think its about time, education system needs to be changed. Great Cause… I see my self as a student of this school one day.. hope they accept my application 🙂

  3. Why just rural, our urban schools too need to be more practical based where kids can see and learn the vocation that interests them. This is a wonderful post, Neha. I want to see this movie too.

  4. I agree with you that everyone should have education. And I think Education can be the solution of most of the problems India is facing today. A proper structured Education and routine since the very start can help children to build themselves a better future.

  5. I am glad that the government has shifted its focus towards building life skills in youth.This is sure to rejuvenate the lost sheen on education! A well written article indeed and I have always loved the African concept of Ubuntu 🙂

  6. A thought provoking post, Neha. I completely agree, not all children can be doctors and engineers. Schools should start teaching children basic skills which can be nurtured for a better future.

  7. Thanks for sharing the reviews about the movie. Such movies which shows the actual conditions of our system and it’s limitation should be made. I was not aware about this movie but now I will watch it. Steps should be taken for uplifting the education system in rural areas.

  8. Nice post , yes it’s too important now to bring some changes in the current education system. Should be modified as per requirement.

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