Education in today's democratic society is in a dangerous state, as can be seen from the degradation of the sexual morality of youth, the frequent occurrence of school violence, and so on. Yet, a suitable theory of education to overcome this confusion is not to be found anywhere, and present-day education has lost its sense of direction. The proper relationship between teacher and student is collapsing. That is to say, students do not respect their teachers, and teachers have lost their sense of authority and enthusiasm. In consequence, the relationship between teachers and students has become one in which the teachers are selling knowledge and the students are buying it, so that schools have turned into places for buying and selling knowledge. Communism has infiltrated these circumstances, turning schools into places teeming with disturbances. In the absence of clear ideas for education, it has been very difficult to thwart the Communist offensive.
Communists have made the following accusation: "In class society, can the ruling class ever respect the rights of laborers and farmers? To fulfill one's own duty and mission in class society means to be a loyal servant to the ruling class, does it not? That is not true democracy. True democracy is the democracy of laborers and farmers, in other words, people's democracy. Therefore, true democratic education should be education for the sake of the people. It should help to overthrow capitalist society and construct socialist society."
This accusation of capitalism by Communism will not lose its persuasiveness as long as exploitation, oppression, injustice, corruption, and so on remain in capitalist society. Therefore, these social evils must be eliminated at all cost. To do this, a movement for a new view of value based on God's love must be launched. Along with it, a new theory of education must be established.
The new theory of education should be established on the basis of the standards that God originally intended to establish for human growth. Such a theory will give proper direction to today's education, which is in confusion, and will provide a vision of education for future society. In other words, it is a theory of education that makes preparation for the future, ideal society. The Unification Theory of Education presented here is precisely such a theory of education.
Theories of education usually have two aspects. One is concerned with the ideals, goals, methods, and so on, of education, and corresponds to what is called the philosophy of education. The other deals with education as an objective, observable phenomenon, and is called the science of education. The science of education inquires into school curricula, student evaluation and testing, learning techniques, student counseling, school administration, educational management, and so forth.
These two fields are in the relationship of Sungsang and Hyungsang. The philosophy of education is the Sungsang of education, whereas the science of education is the Hyungsang of education. While the science of education has made great advances under the modern tendency to think highly of science, the philosophy of education is being neglected and is steadily declining. The fact that education today has lost its direction implies the absence of a philosophy of education. Therefore, what is urgently needed today is the establishment of a new philosophy of education. Therefore, to fill the need for a new philosophy of education, the Unification Theory of Education is hereby proposed.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, March 23, 2009
Educational excellence?
BY SHYAM K.C.
Last week's student elections in colleges across the country were miniature versions of state and local elections. What with the political heavyweights, including ministers, joining in the canvassing campaigns, one can conclude that political parties and their leaders unabashedly use students for their political ends. The scenes we watched on television were similar to those from non-student political elections. Many campuses witnessed violence, which is never a part of free and fair election. There were also reports that attempts were made to capture ballot boxes. Counting of ballots were put off at a few campuses due to tension between student groups aligned to different political parties. The violence took a more serious turn in east Nepal when one student was killed in police firing. The state run television reported that four persons including a college principal were abducted in west Nepal. It seems for political parties, the student elections are as important as other elections in obtaining political offices and seats. No wonder there were allegations that the students who used subsidised transport and other facilities spent lots of money on elections. The open involvement of political parties in student body elections gives rise to suspicions that the aim of student elections goes far beyond improving the quality of education in colleges.
Most students go to college to pursue higher education and become able citizens of the country and the world. But there are others who, in the guise of students, are there to indulge in politics and to keep the banners of their parties afloat by winning in union elections. And this kind of student power is seen mostly in least developed countries like Nepal and also in developing countries like India. It is not that students do not take part in politics. They do. For instance, in Nepal they were active in the pro-democracy movements of 1990 and 2006. During the Vietnam War, the usually peaceful college campuses in the United States erupted against the establishment. In other countries too, students have been a potent force in the change of governments or even political system. But once these goals are achieved, the primary concern of students is education and it is here that they need to concentrate. Places of learning should be kept away from power politics. The disturbance caused by elections based on party lines cannot bode well for the future of the students. But it is true that student bodies must be elected by the students to ensure that their academic life is not marred by poor quality education, incompetent teachers, absence of extra-curricular activities, and other distractions such as unnecessary politicisation of student bodies. Student unions work for the welfare of students in their respective campuses and should try to keep politics away from academic affairs.
The way political leaders, including top Maoist ministers, went on to campaign in campuses to ensure the victory of panels loyal to their parties is a development that must be deplored in no uncertain terms. The general feeling as this writer perceived in the course of talks with ordinary people was that this kind of political interference in student affairs should not set a precedent for the future. This puts at stake academic freedom which is necessary in all academic institutions worth the name. Student unions, apart from working for the welfare of students, can help their respective institutions strengthen their reputations and stand alongside the world's best institutions so that their graduates are respected everywhere and their degrees and diplomas not considered inferior, as they are today in many countries.
Students alone cannot and should not be blamed for what has happened to our present education system. Political parties that unscrupulously use students through their student wings are more to blame. Our political parties are a bane to our students' quest for educational excellence. The parties lack vision and do not seem to realise the long term implications of their present actions. Otherwise they would not be using students for their own political ends despite knowing that students would best serve themselves, their families, their country and even their parties by concentrating on studies and on campus activities instead of party-driven student politics. Student politics during the recent elections took a violent turn. Curfew had to be imposed in some places. And votes could not be counted in a few campuses till Sunday afternoon. But this is less a reflection on the students themselves than on the parties that condone and encourage such activities. Things are not going to improve unless political parties make it a point to stay away from student affairs and not to use students in any political activities designed for short term gains. But it would be futile to expect our leaders to take decisions that would benefit the nation in the long run at the cost of their short-term party interests. But unless this kind of decision is taken by political parties, we are doomed to see students used by political parties even for petty political activities. Educational excellence will remain a distant dream for us until party politics is kept away from college campuses.
Last week's student elections in colleges across the country were miniature versions of state and local elections. What with the political heavyweights, including ministers, joining in the canvassing campaigns, one can conclude that political parties and their leaders unabashedly use students for their political ends. The scenes we watched on television were similar to those from non-student political elections. Many campuses witnessed violence, which is never a part of free and fair election. There were also reports that attempts were made to capture ballot boxes. Counting of ballots were put off at a few campuses due to tension between student groups aligned to different political parties. The violence took a more serious turn in east Nepal when one student was killed in police firing. The state run television reported that four persons including a college principal were abducted in west Nepal. It seems for political parties, the student elections are as important as other elections in obtaining political offices and seats. No wonder there were allegations that the students who used subsidised transport and other facilities spent lots of money on elections. The open involvement of political parties in student body elections gives rise to suspicions that the aim of student elections goes far beyond improving the quality of education in colleges.
Most students go to college to pursue higher education and become able citizens of the country and the world. But there are others who, in the guise of students, are there to indulge in politics and to keep the banners of their parties afloat by winning in union elections. And this kind of student power is seen mostly in least developed countries like Nepal and also in developing countries like India. It is not that students do not take part in politics. They do. For instance, in Nepal they were active in the pro-democracy movements of 1990 and 2006. During the Vietnam War, the usually peaceful college campuses in the United States erupted against the establishment. In other countries too, students have been a potent force in the change of governments or even political system. But once these goals are achieved, the primary concern of students is education and it is here that they need to concentrate. Places of learning should be kept away from power politics. The disturbance caused by elections based on party lines cannot bode well for the future of the students. But it is true that student bodies must be elected by the students to ensure that their academic life is not marred by poor quality education, incompetent teachers, absence of extra-curricular activities, and other distractions such as unnecessary politicisation of student bodies. Student unions work for the welfare of students in their respective campuses and should try to keep politics away from academic affairs.
The way political leaders, including top Maoist ministers, went on to campaign in campuses to ensure the victory of panels loyal to their parties is a development that must be deplored in no uncertain terms. The general feeling as this writer perceived in the course of talks with ordinary people was that this kind of political interference in student affairs should not set a precedent for the future. This puts at stake academic freedom which is necessary in all academic institutions worth the name. Student unions, apart from working for the welfare of students, can help their respective institutions strengthen their reputations and stand alongside the world's best institutions so that their graduates are respected everywhere and their degrees and diplomas not considered inferior, as they are today in many countries.
Students alone cannot and should not be blamed for what has happened to our present education system. Political parties that unscrupulously use students through their student wings are more to blame. Our political parties are a bane to our students' quest for educational excellence. The parties lack vision and do not seem to realise the long term implications of their present actions. Otherwise they would not be using students for their own political ends despite knowing that students would best serve themselves, their families, their country and even their parties by concentrating on studies and on campus activities instead of party-driven student politics. Student politics during the recent elections took a violent turn. Curfew had to be imposed in some places. And votes could not be counted in a few campuses till Sunday afternoon. But this is less a reflection on the students themselves than on the parties that condone and encourage such activities. Things are not going to improve unless political parties make it a point to stay away from student affairs and not to use students in any political activities designed for short term gains. But it would be futile to expect our leaders to take decisions that would benefit the nation in the long run at the cost of their short-term party interests. But unless this kind of decision is taken by political parties, we are doomed to see students used by political parties even for petty political activities. Educational excellence will remain a distant dream for us until party politics is kept away from college campuses.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Too Much Politics in Nepal!
Raj
It is too much in Nepal. If not, how much is too much? We have anarchists both in government and outside. If the men in government make frightening comments at times then the men outside the government framework too contribute to create panic among the already panicked population.
The rhetoric of State Capture that we have been listening since a month or so is what has been sending spine chilling waves in the body of the common men considering what will eventually happen to this nation-state if and when such a capture gets materialized.
Ministerial suggestions that each and every Nepali citizen must carry weapons for their personal safety must not be taken as a joke as it tells the very mindset of those who forwards such hair-raising propositions.
Even the Nepali media men were suggested February 8, 2009 by a sitting minister to keep weapons with them as the state may not be able to provide needed and the adequate security to the media men on an individual basis. A brilliant idea but equally a dangerous one in essence.
The media men are being killed on a frequent basis with no probability of receiving security from the nation-state. Thus the media is in a panicked state. The innocent civilians are being kidnapped in a broad day light. Cases of arson and loot continue unabated. The entire security system in the country appears to have become either lenient or defunct.
The entire Terai or say Madhesh is in turmoil with mind boggling demands unheard of. The Bundhs and closures of the national high ways have become a regular feature. If such Bundhs and closures bring in chaos in the industrial sector then those who are engaged in this domain, the industrialists and the workers, too have been feeling the brunt. If the industrialists now prefer to shift the capital to some, comparatively, safer places outside the country then the innocent workers who earn their living by spending their energies each day for two meals a day too have become jobless which surely has a multiplier effect.
Consider a poor worker who earns one hundred rupees by extending his personal services to any one factory will have no money to feed his children and other family members if the factories are told to close down under one pretext or the other by some groups, politically motivated or otherwise.
The repeated bundhs and the closures in effect are hitting the poor section of the Nepali society instead what is being given to understand.
The culture of Bundhs and Closures, a new phenomenon for Nepal indeed but it appears that such phenomenon have already taken deep roots in our country.
Who benefits or for that matter who or which section of the society is hit hard by such sad events is any body’s guess.
The Bundhs and closures continue but the government in Kathmandu has no time to look into the mater seriously. The government at best is busy in calculating the numerical numbers on how to continue in power. This is a cheat. This is unacceptable. No sane person on earth will praise such a government that remains averse to the plight of its own population.
The culture of Bundhs and Closures must come to an end. If the demands are political ones then the government must try to handle it politically. If the bundhs and the closures are made by miscreants then the state must deal with the emerging situation accordingly.
Alas! The nepali people haven’t felt that there is the presence of the government. Neither the government is present nor the State?
If so then we the people are left to the mercy of the Almighty who prefers not to speak when we need him to speak in our favor.
Perhaps this explains the situation prevailing in this country. That’s all.
It is too much in Nepal. If not, how much is too much? We have anarchists both in government and outside. If the men in government make frightening comments at times then the men outside the government framework too contribute to create panic among the already panicked population.
The rhetoric of State Capture that we have been listening since a month or so is what has been sending spine chilling waves in the body of the common men considering what will eventually happen to this nation-state if and when such a capture gets materialized.
Ministerial suggestions that each and every Nepali citizen must carry weapons for their personal safety must not be taken as a joke as it tells the very mindset of those who forwards such hair-raising propositions.
Even the Nepali media men were suggested February 8, 2009 by a sitting minister to keep weapons with them as the state may not be able to provide needed and the adequate security to the media men on an individual basis. A brilliant idea but equally a dangerous one in essence.
The media men are being killed on a frequent basis with no probability of receiving security from the nation-state. Thus the media is in a panicked state. The innocent civilians are being kidnapped in a broad day light. Cases of arson and loot continue unabated. The entire security system in the country appears to have become either lenient or defunct.
The entire Terai or say Madhesh is in turmoil with mind boggling demands unheard of. The Bundhs and closures of the national high ways have become a regular feature. If such Bundhs and closures bring in chaos in the industrial sector then those who are engaged in this domain, the industrialists and the workers, too have been feeling the brunt. If the industrialists now prefer to shift the capital to some, comparatively, safer places outside the country then the innocent workers who earn their living by spending their energies each day for two meals a day too have become jobless which surely has a multiplier effect.
Consider a poor worker who earns one hundred rupees by extending his personal services to any one factory will have no money to feed his children and other family members if the factories are told to close down under one pretext or the other by some groups, politically motivated or otherwise.
The repeated bundhs and the closures in effect are hitting the poor section of the Nepali society instead what is being given to understand.
The culture of Bundhs and Closures, a new phenomenon for Nepal indeed but it appears that such phenomenon have already taken deep roots in our country.
Who benefits or for that matter who or which section of the society is hit hard by such sad events is any body’s guess.
The Bundhs and closures continue but the government in Kathmandu has no time to look into the mater seriously. The government at best is busy in calculating the numerical numbers on how to continue in power. This is a cheat. This is unacceptable. No sane person on earth will praise such a government that remains averse to the plight of its own population.
The culture of Bundhs and Closures must come to an end. If the demands are political ones then the government must try to handle it politically. If the bundhs and the closures are made by miscreants then the state must deal with the emerging situation accordingly.
Alas! The nepali people haven’t felt that there is the presence of the government. Neither the government is present nor the State?
If so then we the people are left to the mercy of the Almighty who prefers not to speak when we need him to speak in our favor.
Perhaps this explains the situation prevailing in this country. That’s all.
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