IMPROVING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Badri has written up his thoughts on the problems with our current education system in his blog Thoughts in Tamil. His post is in Tamil. For all those others who can't read Tamil, here's an English translation of his post. Badri has incidentally made a conscious choice to blog in Tamil rather than in English.

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The Indian Education system is in great trouble. These are some of the faults I find in the current education system.

• Several children do not even get a basic elementary education.
• The rich and upper middle class in cities find decent quality private schools to send their children to. Even in these schools, getting a pass in the exams is the priority, not learning. Even these schools fail in teaching various arts, and in particular common sense to children.
• Both the private and government schools in smaller towns and villages are uniformly pathetic.
• Even if a student graduates from a higher secondary school, there are not enough colleges. The only hope left to most high school graduates is correspondence education. It is not clear to me whether one can be motivated enough to study through the correspondence course material sitting at home.
• Even if one graduates from college, the graduates are mostly unemployable, because of poor quality course material and teaching in the colleges. I have myself seen a number of such people while interviewing them for various posts in my organization.

Despite all this, several thousand young men and women have been leading our nation forward. On just about all counts of economic indicators including the foreign exchange reserves, "India is Shining". Just imagine where we can be if only we resolved our education related problems?

Here are some of my (not so complete) ideas:

1. Compulsory free education should be made available till Class XII

   The state and central governments should completely absorb the cost of providing free education till 12th standard to every child, irrespective of caste, religion and economic status. This should cover not just school fees, but also free books, food if necessary, uniform clothing and even a place to stay if the parents cannot afford that to their children. Those with money can always opt for their favourite private school, and feed their own children. Alternately, some rich may decide to send their children to the govt. schools.

2. Govt. schools should be run by private entities/entrepreneurs.

   It is very doubtful if the government can manage hiring qualified teachers and provide quality education to children. Like in the USA, the government can opt for building the schools and make them available to private companies on a long-term lease, based on auction. The organization that comes up with the lowest bid and agrees to maintain the best quality education would be chosen to run each school in each locality.

   We need to introduce a concept of 'education credit'. It is an amount equal to the average cost incurred in teaching a child in the privately run Govt. schools. This education credit is made available to every child. The child can either avail of the education by exchanging this credit in the Govt. owned and private operated school, or cash this portion against the fees and other costs incurred by them in a completely private school. This way, the tax payer does not have to feel miffed that his her money is used only to train OTHER children. Panchayat and municipalities must own and manage the school premises and oversee the operation of the private entities running the school.

3. All education above higher secondary school level should be primarily dealt with by private entities.

   If some state governments wish, they can run colleges, but it should be unnecessary. Students should be offered lenient education loans at very low interest rates.These loans are liable to be paid only after the students finish their education and find a job of their own.

   That is, free education until higher secondary; but paid-for education after that. Those who can't afford to pay for this higher education get low-cost and lenient loans. This kind of comfortable educational loans are made available to students in USA.

4. Alternate education must be promoted

   It appears to me that there is no need to teach anyone for more than 3 hours a day till the secondary school. Therefore, the available education infrastructure can be used more effectively through the shift system. Three normal shifts can be run between 0700-1000, 1100-1400 and 1500-1800 hours. An hour gap in between for the children to leave the school and the next set to walk in. In the late nights - from 1900-2200, the facility can be used to provide education to old and unlettered. Facilities such as the building, furniture, library, computer centre, laboratories and play fields can be used very efficiently in this
   manner.

   Further, individual teachers wanting to run their own curriculum can be entertained to use the nearby school facilities including the building, furniture, library, computer centre and laboratories. Like the 'Gurukula' method, a single teacher can lead a group of about 20 children from 1st to 12th standard. The students can write their 10th and 12th standard examination under the National Institute of Open Schooling. Nothing stops those who graduate through this system from joining the available colleges. Through the 'education credit', each student can pay his teacher. This helps the teacher earn a reasonable income and the student is also guaranteed quality infrastructure.

5. College education through correspondence system to be increased

   In each town, "Tutorial" colleges (as they are called in Chennai) can be set up by individuals who enroll their students in a correspondence course run by authorised universities. [This is applicable only to non-professional courses.] The day-to-day training is provided by these Tutorial colleges. The timings can be flexible, allowing for the students to also find a part-time work during the day.

6. Impediments in the way of setting up for-profit private colleges to be removed

   Today, only a charitable trust can set up educational institutions. Therefore, honest entrepreneurs interested in making profits will not get involved in spending their time and setting up quality educational institutions. The result is that only criminals who plunder money illegally in the name of "charitable trusts" get involved in providing education, and make money through capitation fees. To stop this, the government should allow for for-profit companies to set up educational institutions.

   This move will result in considerable capital flowing into the education sector. These colleges so set up will still come under the purview of the education ministries around the country, and so the government can still regulate the fees charges for providing the education. This is akin to regulating the distribution of power in Mumbai and Delhi. The government regulator only decides the upper limit cost per unit of power. Similar regulation now exists in telecom. Therefore it is perfectly possible to bring about the same in education as well.

   I do not claim that these suggestions, if implemented, will remove all problems we have in our education sector. However I am hopeful that they can alleviate the problem considerably.

10 SECRET OF SUCCESS

1. How You Think is Everything.

Always be positive. Think Success, not Failure. Beware of a negative environment.

This trait has to be one of the most important in the entire list. Your belief that you can accomplish your goals has to be unwavering. The moment you say to yourself “I can’t…”, then you won’t. I was always given the advice “never say I can’t” and I’d like to strike those words from the dictionary.

I’ve found that from time-to-time my attitude waivers. A mentor of mine once said “it’s ok to visit pity city, but you can’t stay and there comes a time when you need to leave”. Positive things happen to positive people.

2. Decide upon Your True Dreams and Goals: Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them.

Write down my dreams and goals? Develop a plan to reach them? You mean like a project plan? Yes, that’s exactly what this means. You may have heard the old adage: A New Years resolution that isn’t written down is just a dream, and dreams are not goals.

Goals are those concrete, measurable stepping stones of achievement that track your progress towards your dreams. My goal is to start a second career as a freelance writer – what are your goals?

3. Take Action. Goals are nothing without action.

Be like Nike and “Just do it”. I took action by reaching out and started writing. Every day I try to take some action towards my goals. It may be small, but it’s still an action. Have you taken action towards your goals?

4. Never Stop Learning: Go back to school or read books. Get training & acquire skills.

Becoming a life long learner would benefit us all and is something we should instill in our kids. It’s funny that once you’re out of school you realize how enjoyable learning can be. What have you learned today?

5. Be Persistent and Work Hard: Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.

I think every story of success I read entails long hard hours of work. There is no getting around this and there is no free lunch. But, if you’re working towards something that you’re passionate about, something you love – then is it really work?

6. Learn to Analyze Details: Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.

I think you have to strike a balance between getting all the facts and making a decision with incomplete data – both are traits of successful people. Spend time gathering details, but don’t catch ‘analysis paralysis’.

7. Focus Your Time And Money: Don’t let other people or things distract you.

Remain laser focused on your goals and surround yourself with positive people that believe in you. Don’t be distracted by the naysayer’s or tasks that are not helping you achieve your goals.

8. Don’t Be Afraid To Innovate: Be different. Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.

Follow through on that break-out idea you have. Ask yourself “What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?”

9. Deal And Communicate With People Effectively: No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.

Successful people develop and nurture a network and they only do that by treating people openly, fairly and many times firmly. There is nothing wrong about being firm – just don’t cross the a-hole line. How do you deal with people?

10. Be Honest And Dependable: Take responsibility, otherwise numbers 1 – 9 won’t matter.

Seven Leadership Principles

Seven Leadership Principles

by Don Gleason, Park Society Discussion, Orlando, FL

My growth has been greatly enhanced by learning to sail. I have a thirty year old 12 foot Dolphin Sailboat and a 24 foot Com Pac made in 1981. They are perfect for exploring all the lakes and seaways around where I live. The lessons learned relaxing and reflecting on these old boats have enhanced my own spiritual growth and journey to recovery.

The following are small insights in seven principles that have helped me gain perspective and stay on course. Some of us never learned to “sail” very well in the arena of personal integrity, growth through adversity and recovery from failure. As you go ponder these thoughts, I pray you’ll learn to navigate your own craft in stormy weather or the deep blue calm seas…keeping upright on a true course.

I. FACE THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

The wind can be blowing nicely, but if I am not positioned correctly I go nowhere. When I tack at the right angle, I really get moving.

Face up to your weakness, as well as your strengths. Use God’s word and the power of His Spirit to fill your sail. Leaders take responsibility for their lives and the direction they take.

Leaders cast the vision and set the direction.

II. PAY ATTENTION TO THE HULL!

“Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds…” Prov.27:23

Cracks appear in the hull from time to time from stress, abuse, and normal wear and tear. It takes time to turn the boat over and sand out the rough spots and fill in all the cracks and “dings”. But if you take the time, your boat will stay seaworthy.

Take time to really examine your own life…the places where you might be “leaking”. Are certain habits creeping back? Are cracks appearing in your recovery? It may be time to put in a little extra “rehab work” with a brother or a counselor.

Leaders don’t shy away from self examination.

III. EXPECT ADVERSE WINDS!

“Consider all joy when you encounter various trials…” James 1:2

Without the wind, I will sail nowhere, but strong opposing winds can at times be terrifying. How can I sail straight when the wind is coming at me? Setting the right course and constantly adjusting it keeps me on track.

Are you staying on course? Are you making the right “course corrections” in your life to help you keep your top lines working and your bottom lines intact?

Leaders know how to continually adjust to keep on course.

IV. WHEN IN TROUBLE, LET GO! “In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed. In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline your ear to me and save me. Psalm 71:1-2

Sometimes I get caught in a gust that threatens to capsize by boat. I have learned that instead of getting tipped over, all I have to do is let go of the sail and the tiller. The boat automatically positions itself into the wind, and I can try again.

What do you need to let go of? Your reputation? Your shame? The idea that you can “manage” your sin? While you’re not the “perfect Christian guy” you often portrayed…you’re not the sum of your sin either. Let go of both extremes and let God direct you into safe waters of healing, help and recovery.

Leaders have great resiliency.

V. PREPARE YOUR CREW!

“So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." ⁷Then he said to the people, "Go forward, and march around the city, and let the armed men go on before the ark of the LORD." But Joshua commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout!"

Joshua 6:6,7 & 10

Maggie, our Labrador dog has learned the hard way. When I yell, “We’re coming about…!” she jumps from the bow to the center of the boat. She got tired of sliding off the bow into the lake every time I made a sharp turn. Even the dog wants to be told when we’re changing direction.

Men usually move at light speed and can get ready in a moment’s notice. Those around them often have a hard time adjusting to these rapid course corrections. We often forget the comfort of those around us depends on us communicating what we know might lie just ahead. Learn to read the wind and prepare those around you for what’s looming on the horizon.

Leaders share their insight and communicate with their crew.

VI. INVITE OTHERS TO SAIL WITH YOU!

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” Philippians 2:3-4

Sailing alone can be great. It provides peace and relaxation, or skill and stamina depending on the day’s wind. Watching the reaction of a first time sailor to six dolphins rising out of the water in the Gulf is a thrill for both of us. We sailed around Honeymoon Island after crossing the Dunedin Bridge and sailed by some spectacular beaches. We talked about life, and the ups and downs we faced. By sunset, we had seen how God provides the wind, the sea and helped us to get back to a safe harbor.

Others need to hear how you sail into growth or recovery. You’ve faced strong winds and rough waters. Invite another guy to lunch. Share your story and your struggles. Be an encourager. Lead a bible study with a few other guys, or organize one and find someone to lead it. Someone has to initiate to make it happen…why not you? Keep an eye out for the guy on the horizon who needs to be invited in.

Being “inclusive” is a mark of leadership.

VII. THERE’S ALWAYS MORE!

“The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters” Psalm 24:1-2

The world is more than two-thirds water and I’ll never run out of new places to sail and explore. I won’t ever get bored with the same old scenery or feel like there are no new adventures. I’m off to enjoy warm winds, colorful skies and deep blue water!

The great news is that you can continue to grow for the rest of your life into a deeper more intimate relationship with God and others. You don’t ever have to stop, and it’s not something that is ever “complete” or that you eventually “retire” from. As you grow you’ll have a greater capacity to lead and influence those around you.

Leaders who persevere are in for the long haul, and not just a seasonal run.

Conclusion:

Leadership in this context simply means taking initiative and responsibility for your own actions. As you do this, there will be plenty of opportunity to positively impact those around you. It is a natural byproduct of growing in a healthy relationship with God and others.