RTE Act

Right to Education Act, this mandates the right to education of a child below 14 years of age in India. It is believed to be a remedy for the child labor and a way for India to be in the list of developed nations. Well said. Both central and state Governments support and strive for a strict implementation of this act.

The Act mandates that all the private schools in the nation should admit 25% of their students from economically weaker sections without charging any Fee. For every student admitted, the Government will reimburse Rs.8000/- to the school. Looks rosy and seems to solve the problem. But wait a moment, certain issues to be discussed.

When Government spends almost equal or more than this amount for a child studying in Government School, how it can expect the private schools to offer education at this cost? Everyone knows the infrastructure in a Government school and in a well-to-do private school. Where the schools will account this excess expenditure? Obviously, the common man (remaining 75% of Children parents) falls prey. They are over burden with this additional expense. It’s like a punishment to the common man, who toils all around the day to make his/her child study in a reputed institution. Now, this poor common man should also run for other parent’s (economically weaker section) laziness or irresponsibleness or for their incapability’s. This act seems to pass on the bug to the common man.

One has to wait and see for the cultural incompatibilities. The gap might be huge, but the very fact of the act is to stricture this gap. Is it really practical? The gap in the education, which is provided, is narrowed down. But what happens to the dress, life style, bags, food, family support and many more? Whether the tender children will understand and bear these differences? Time has to answer this.

If India can run IIT’s and IIM’s as world renowned institutions, why India cannot run the Government schools in a qualitative manner? It shows the failure of the Government or shrugging off its responsibility. It should be made mandatory that all the MP’s, MLA’s and all Government officials’ children should study in Government schools. If that is brought out as an act, may all this problems see a full stop?

Importance of Recognition (STROKES)

Recognition, otherwise called as STROKES in Psychology, is an important facet in child development. Apart from child development strokes also plays a vital role in relationship building in adults. To understand strokes in simple terms, it is recognizing / considering a person for what he/she is.

This is a small tool or a magic tool which can do wonders in child development and interpersonal relationship. One can manage or modify others behavior by using Strokes judiciously.

The various types of strokes are:

1.      Positive Strokes

2.      Negative Strokes

3.      Verbal Strokes

4.      Non-Verbal Strokes

5.      Conditional Strokes

6.      Unconditional Strokes

7.      Self Strokes

8.      No Strokes

(will be continued in the next post)

Are we Intelligent?

To find an answer to this question one should understand, what intelligent really means? When dipped into dictionary to find the meaning, it says that it is an ability to learn or understand something and to use that understanding to solve problems or to lead a better life. On a close look to this meaning, there are two parts. One is learning or understanding and the other one is implementation. The second part is most important because many people ignore it.

People are very happy in knowing something rather than action. Can a student, who recites all the 1330 couplets in Thirukkural, be called intelligent? One can claim that his/her memory power is good and not more than that. If he/she has to be certified as intelligent, one has to lead their life according the couplet(s). Another common example is that, everyone knows doing regular exercise or yoga or walking is good for health.  But how many do it regularly?

Somehow today’s education system gives more importance to the knowing part (memory power) rather than application. If one wants to swim, jumping into a pool (may be under guidance) will help and not by doing a research in swimming. The real joy of food is by tasting it. Hence, get into action after understanding a point and become intelligent. That is real learning.