Dr Sarita Iyer , Dean – Krupanidhi Management Institute, Bangalore.
Are books the only thing which builds the core competencies of a child???….I think not….the fundamental of the child’s wholistic development is building the core values which sustain him or her throughout their life.
Life skills are the oxygen to lead a happy life and these must be embedded in a child’s life at an early stage so that it gets into their subconscious and manifests itself in any and every situation.
The academic process at school only takes care of the Intelligence Quotient and nurtures the left brain but what about the Emotional component that is ones Right brain!!
The primary purpose of education must be the inner innate transformation and liberation of the child helping him to transform into a ethical, respectful, law-abiding citizen and through that alone can we form a noveau society . The true essence of education is to help us from childhood not to imitate anybody, but to aid in becoming the best version of ourselves.
So what is this Brahmastra we are talking about?? Life skills are those set of tools which must be ingrained at a young age so that kids can grow into successful and happy adults. Simplistically put perhaps the most prominent life skill is the ability and willingness to learn.
These are especially relevant today as the new Generation called as Gen Alpha (probably called so as they follow their own rules, born post 2010) are benefit of the basic courtesies of life….they are the Children of millennials who are a different genre anyway. The Generation Alpha from the young age of 5 are already dictating spending patterns. They are born to a gadget friendly world, given cell phones as babysitters, they refuse to take or accept no for an answer, do not know how do deal with success or failure and hence could face road blocks in their future. They get depressed if they don’t get enough likes on social media!!!
Life skills help cope with life successfully. Todays generation feels if they are technically competent, have great grades that’s all they need….now that’s where they and their Parents (the Millennials) are going wrong…..I could be wrong here there are exceptions to every ideology.
The Gurukula system which was prevalent earlier imbibed in the Students respect for elders, tolerance, discipline, compassion, ethics, spirituality, responsibility….these have gotten missing from our present Education Curriculum and these are some of the LIFE SKILLS needed to survive.
As the kids enter the Corporate world they realize that the bubble in which they have been brought up is questioned and the backlash is felt by their parents that “YOU NEVER TOLD ME”‘…..It’s too late then to realize that one could be technically brilliant and is still not getting promoted!!. What is also required is the Art of Diplomacy, Positive attitude, Listening Skills, Team Dynamics, Concept of Empathy .These are unfortunately not taught at Schools.
An education today prepares you to crack an entrance exam but doesn’t prepare you to sustain at a job. I not casting aspersions on upbringing methodologies of parents, having said that with most of us working and providing for a better life for the family all these talks are at times skirted around.
Even discussions at Family lunches and dinners are not with each other but with the cell phones. When is the last time you had an honest to God discussion with your child on Morals, ethics, accountability, sex education etc.???
I rest my case and urge the Academic fraternity that the Curriculum to be enriched with developing the Right Brain as well and aiding the Students with life skills starting as young as 8 or 9 do that they grow up to be winners for Life.
There are a lot of people out there who can empower your child to grow into an exceptional adult. Get your Child the Life skills they need to flourish happily.
Human beings must be integrated and aligned if they are to come out of any crisis, and especially the present world crisis, without being broken. Hence to all parents and Educators who are really interested in a wholistic development of the child, think hard again for your child will be the Future Game Changer of the world.
Signing off
“I am Me and that’s my Power”