(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) KO photo by Abid Bhat
'Learning Beyond Syllabus Sows Seeds Of Curiosity, Creativity And Individuality Among Children'
By Nazir Ganaie
Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Thursday interacted with children at Delhi Public School, Srinagar where he played a teacher and asked a series of mathematical equations to participating students -while urging authorities to create the campus into a“centre of curiosity.”
“We must not push our children just to face success. Failure is a first step of the deep learning process,” LG said, during a half an hour long speech at Delhi Public School, Srinagar campus.
“The learning environment that exists beyond syllabus sows the seeds of curiosity, creativity and individuality in the children,” apparently jubilant Sinha said, adding“Education must inculcate curiosity in young minds, provide an opportunity to their inner creativity to shine and help them to achieve their individuality.”
Sinha, who has a B. Tech And M. Tech degree in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, recalled his college days and narrated to students his stint at the college and the role of the teachers in shaping up the career of the students.
“Till my college days, there were many concepts which were just concepts without any clarity. But when you are curious and you strive for answers, you get many of them... If you look back and you will find out many of the inventions have been done by people who don't have long formal education. It is their mind, their curiosity and the way they use their hands that make them so special in the world,” he said.
He said that education awakens the mind, instills doubt and curiosity in the students, ignites critical thinking, scientific temper, creativity and nurtures their unique personality. The LG said every student must follow the four Mantras in life. Knowing one's inner self, finding the inner voice, learning through practice and learning through collaboration.
“Children are future of our nation and they need to learn skills that will prepare them for the real world,” he said, adding“It is collective responsibility of teachers and school management to transform the school campus into a campus of curiosity, where the focus is on creativity rather than rote learning and where the innovativeness of the children is rewarded and not just top marks.”
He said, while looking back, the country had a remarkable place in the knowledge economy. He said under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi, an unprecedented task of transforming the entire education system through the National Education Policy was underway.
“Our focus is to make education a powerful medium for independent research, growth of independent ideas and the classrooms to be a place where dreams and aspirations are born,” he said.
Boom of Artificial Intelligence
The LG also highlighted the important role of teachers in empowering students through modern and traditional knowledge. He said that Artificial Intelligence has brought unprecedented change in every sphere of our lives. Soon, AI-powered schools will provide customized education, enhance the capability of children but despite this advanced technology only teachers will be able to provide 'education of conscience.'
He emphasized that the teachers' task was not to finish syllabus but to hone raw potential within the children and to transform the learning journey into a creative, engaging and collaborative way.“They should put every child through this process so that he or she can recognize the inner courage and wisdom.”
The LG impressed upon the teaching community to make the learning process engaging and collaborative, and provide the children with the space to enrich their personality and individuality.
“The learning environment that exists beyond syllabus sows the seeds of curiosity, creativity and individuality in the children. Education must inculcate curiosity in young minds, provide an opportunity for their inner creativity to shine and help them to achieve their individuality,” the LG said.
Sinha also spoke about the reforms introduced, over the past few years, to overhaul the education sector. He informed that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an unprecedented task of transforming the entire education system through the National Education Policy was underway.
“Our focus is to make education a powerful medium for independent research, growth of independent ideas and the classrooms to be a place where dreams and aspirations are born,” he observed.
G20 Summit in Srinagar – 'J&K has come out of the dark era'
Speaking on the successful conduct of G20-Summit in Srinagar, LG Sinha said, the world has witnessed the“rise of peaceful and emerging Jammu Kashmir.”
“Jammu Kashmir has come out of the dark era, when schools used to remain shut for months together. Students must tell their parents and other members of the society that a great opportunity has finally arrived. Now, schools are functional round the year. Work culture in Businesses, offices has improved. Youths are able to realize their dreams and the common man is enjoying quality life,” said the LG.
“First requirement for development and education is peace. We all must put our efforts in ensuring peace through collective participation,” he said.
Chairman DPS Srinagar, Vijay Dhar, highlighted the achievements of the School including learning school and virtual interface developed for specially-abled children. He stressed on the need for public and private schools to come together to extend quality education to all.
“We have twenty-five thousand government schools whose strength approximately is sixteen (16) lacs students in the state then we have seven 7000 private schools whose strength should be approximately twelve (12) lacs. Let us both public and private schools work with the same cause for education,” he opined.“The investment in private schools should be approximately sixty (60) thousand crores. Private schools are trying to supplement the education efforts of the government yet they are treated as parasites. Why is it that our UT which declared education free in 1951 has the lowest standard of education? In seventy years, we should have become an Education Hub of the country.”
On the occasion, the LG took round the learning and recreational centre for specially-abled children in the school.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Mohammad Aijaz, DIG central Kashmir, Sujit Kumar, Pro Vice-Chairperson, Kiran Dhar, Principal, DPS Srinagar, Shafaq Afshan, teachers, and a large number of students of DPS were present.
Gifts His Luxury Watch To A Kid
On the move with his officers amidst hundreds of participating children at the mini Indoor Stadium of Delhi Public School, Srinagar, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, received a rousing reception and many curious questions.
Sinha was interacting with the students of DPS, Srinagar during a function held at the School campus here.
While bidding adieu to the students after attending a two-hour long event at the School campus, the LG gets a compliment from a kid for his luxury watch, he smiles, takes a step ahead, comes back and removes it from his wrist and gifts it to the kid.”
“Your watch is very nice,” the kid was heard saying.“The kid held his hand and started reading the watch...LG Sinha smiled, took a step ahead, came back and gifted it to the kid.”
The students, according to school authorities, are said to be enrolled in the 7th standard.
Sinha, who was flanked by Chairman Vijay Dhar, Principal, DPS Srinagar, Shafaq Afshan, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Mohammad Aijaz, Pro Vice-Chairperson, Kiran Dhar, told the Principal and Dhar that his children were“smart enough”.
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