Scholarly Research Journal for Humanity Science & English Language, Online ISSN 2348-3083, SJ IMPACT FACTOR 2017: 5.068, www.srjis.com PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL, FEB – MAR, 2019, VOL- 7/32
CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION IN 21ST CENTURY Balbir Singh Jamwal, Ph. D. Principal, BKM Collge Of Education, Balachaur, Distt S.B.S Nagar (Pb) Abstract In this paper, an attempt has been made to focus on challenges of education in 21st century. Education and health sectors both are considered a mirror of any country. It means that education is considered backbone of any nation. We know very well that it is age of science and technology. Due to the advancement of science and technology, everything has and has been changed very fast. Our education system has and has been also changed . Major changes in education are in Teaching methodology, objectives, curriculum, values, attitudes of learners and tutors, education policies, infrastructure, media of instructions, quality of education, economic resources, commitments, social and political cultures, knowledge, character, sustainability, dependence, humanism and terrorism etc. Due to the drastic changes in education system, various challenges have and have been arisen before state and centre governments. The writer has not hope ,but full faith that this article would be very helpful to the educationists, political leaders, social reformers and education policy makers to change the attitudes and frame the policy for qualitative rather than quantitative education.
Scholarly Research Journal's is licensed Based on a work at www.srjis.com Introduction Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said that education should be for the mind, heart and hands. Swami Vivekananda has emphasized on character formation, sentrength of mind is increased, intellect is expounded and by which one can stand on his own feet. Without ethics and values, education is meaningless. In the higher education students are matured. The growth and development of the society totally depends upon on the ethics and values. Wilston Churchill has rightly said aim of higher should be wisdom, not trade, character, not intellectualities. Society expects from the matured people that they develop ethics and values in themselves in the higher education because whole burden of the society on the shoulders of Youngers of the society. Shankracharya has also emphasized on the development of moral character. Swami Dayanand has rightly said that education means formation of character and righteous living. M.K Gandhi has said that End of all knowledge should be building up of character. A well-educated person is known all over the region because he is able to meet the conflicting challenges education culturists the individual and help him to fulfill his needs. Education develops a individual like a flower, which distribute its fragrance all over the Copyright Š 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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environment. Thus education is the conducive process, which develops child’s individuality in all its aspects-physical, mental, emotional and social with the growth and development of individual the society also develops to higher and higher levels of attainments. Thus, education is the essential for the growth and development of individual as well as society. Education is an important human activity. It was born with the birth of human race and shall continue to function as long as the human race lives. The importance of education may be summed up as follows: A necessity for society - education is necessary for society education fashions and models man for society. Man cannot be conceived merely in terms of his biological existence. Education brings into focus the social aspect of man. Education signifies man’s supreme position in society. Gives significance of life - education teachers what man lives and struggles for. It cultivates an integrated life. By so doing. It gives significance of life. Radhakrishnan “Education is the development of all those capacities in the individual which will enable him to control his environment and fulfill his possibilities” Dewey Challenges for twenty first century Education There are various challenges for twenty first century, but the writer is focusing on the following major challenges. 1 Quantitative education rather than qualitative education It has and has been observed that various education institutions has been opened in all over the country. Due to this process of opening the institutions on the demand of public,but no attention has paid to the quality of education. As result, Instead of qualitative education, quantitative education increased and system of education has changed. This system of education has been emphasized on ineffective education because various social ills like inequality, violation of human rights, resistance to change, conflicts, poverty and interdependence increased. It means that our education system is neglecting quality education. There are some problems which are directly and indirectly concerned with this ineffective education system and lowering the quality of education. Lack of skill based teaching. Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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Inappropriate education policies. Emphasized on ,content and structure of education. 2
People becoming automation rather than critical and creative thinking. It also a major challenge of education that people has stopped to think over the issues, whatever may be , they have started to faith on instructional material, neglecting creative and critical thinking. It means that our education system has been emphasized on instructional method of imparting knowledge rather than creative and critical thinking. The instructional method of imparting the knowledge neglects the ability and dignity of learner as human being. This approach is irrelevant to reconstruction of experience of learners. New experience cannot exist without critically thinking and creativity. Automation method of education having various disadvantages like Lack of innovation Lack of problem solving Lack of activity based learning. Educate but illiterate
Automation education has become a major challenge of education. It is the need of hour to develop of the learner to develop critical and creative thinking. Without developing critical and creative thinking, education is meaningless. 3 lack of empathetic attitude To understand anything empathetic attitude is very necessary. Machine cannot understand the feelings of others. We cannot reach at any solution without adopting empathetic attitude. A teacher should have the knowledge of specified children, respecting children cultural and social context and involving parents and communities in school activities. The teacher, therefore require interpersonal and counseling skills that can be enabled them to take right decisions. 4 lack of social concepts Man is social animal. He lives in the society and dies in the society. Human being fulfils his all needs in the society. For this social concept should be mind in the human being. Our children are liking to live alone and they are liking electronic media to pass the time. It means that in our education system social concept merely exists in the curriculum. Education is only media through which our society can achieve the framed objectives and mould its material Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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according to society demands. It is very major challenge of education in the 21st century. It should be mentioned in the curriculum so that teacher as well as the students could be understood the society and its process of socialization. Without social concept,social values like tolerance, open-mindedness and humanity in interpersonal interaction etc cannot be developed. It is very necessary to develop social values among students. In our present education system social concept is disappearing, it is a major challenge of education. 5 Economic challenge In the present era scarcity of economic resources and controversial methods of distribution of resources are the major challenge of education. Without proper finance resource in the education sector, education system cannot be developed strongly. As we know very well that for strong and effective education system, strong finance resources should be must, because due to the advancement of science and technology education has become very costly. It has and has been observed that distribution of economic resources are not justified. It includes proper funding, infrastructure, salary and other benefits. 6 Ethical challenge In our education, system has and has been observed that there is ethical challenge of education. Without ethics education system is meaningless. In our education system, ethical values are disappearing and degrading. Education develops a sense of right and wrong, good and bad. However, in the present education system is not helping them to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad. Ethical values include honesty, justice, empathy, compassion, respect and responsibility etc. These values do not exist in the society in real sense. 7 Technological challenge Technological challenge of education has arisen due to advancement of science and technology as observed. This challenge means inability to control and manage of technology in a way that benefit of society without endearing wellbeing. Technological challenge includes Internet abusing Internet hacking Cyber crime
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8 lack of commitment Commitment in any profession and system is must.we cannot get success and satisfied without commitment. Commitment includes consistency, professional loyalty, professional competencies and conformity to professional standards and ethics. In our education system, commitment does not exist in reality on ground. Without proper commitment of govt., teachers, students, social and political leaders, even educationists and policy makers, education system cannot become strong. There is urgent need of the hour of commitment. As result, we can say that if education system concerned people will not having committed till then, education system cannot run on right track and make progress. It is challenge of education in 21st century. 9 Environmental challenge In our country environmental disparities are found. The is not equal environment everywhere. Every state having its own problems. There are both types natural and manmade climate hazards. Equal policy and equal funding is not possible. To make different policies and maintain balance in different policies of different states is a big challenge of education. 10 culture and traditions Our country having different cultures and traditions. India is so called the country of differet cultures and traditions. it means that it is land of diversity and unity. Due to the advancement of science and technology education system has and has been changed,but some culures and traditions are static.every state has its own cultures and traditions.it is a big challenge of education to make balanced education system because different states having different demands. 11 Political interference Our education is system is changing according to change in the ideology of ruling government. It is very big challenge of education .Policies are framed according to manifesto of ruling party. Policy makers are associated with ruling party and economic resources are distributed according to ideology of ruling party, not demanded basis. 12 challenge of terrorism Terrorism is not a problem of single country but it is international problem.we can say that it is global challenge. Few countries are under the fully shelter of attack. It is big challenge of education. Country like india is under the shelter of terrorism. People and governments are Copyright Š 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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unable to answer the question that how can institution work with young people to face the problems of terrorism and reduce it?.some states school are opening and some states school are closing due to terrorism attack. Our educational approach to terrorism must in cooperate not only awareness of what terrorism is and why it exists. It is very dilemma in our education system that which type of educational approach adopted so that to keep away the education from the influence of terrorism. 13 Singularity challenge Singularity is a big challenge of education in 21st century. People are depending on the artificial intelligence, means on machines. Artificial intelligence implies that some area of human activity can be outsourced by machines where others cannot. Due to electric media dependence of human being has and has been increased. the capacity to acceptance without critical and creativity thinking has increased, it is not aim of education. Aim of our education is reconstruction of experiences. 14 Sustainability Sustainability is another challenge of education. In present education system, sustainability does not exist. Due to the various issues like politics, economic, social and environmental sustainability is lowering. Sustainability requires sustain efforts with one tune of progress along with improvement on the constructive and re construction attitude based theory. Sustainability, has become a big challenge of education in the 21st century due explosion of knowledge, population and ideology of different political parties existing in country. 15 Character Character is big challenge of education. Our educationists have emphasized that education aim should be formation of good character. Our education system is not seemed to achieve this objective. As we know very well that what has and has been happened in our country. Our education system is trying to develop a sense of good character among the students, but not getting full success. Without forming good characters ,no policy can be fruitful. 16 Mindfulness It has and has been observed that teachers and students are under the stress. They have work load of teaching and learning. Syllabus is so lengthy that it cannot cover in short fixed timing. Physical activities are very few in the curriculum. There is no proper balance between mentally and physical work. Due to this imbalance, they carry out hyperactive life styles that Copyright Š 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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can become unhealthy and compulsive. It is the challenge of education that what are institutions doing and what should they be doing to promote happiness, focused on calmness and appreciative people and how does the mindfulness movement stand up to this challenge? 17 Religious challenges In the present era, religious rigidity has become a major challenge of education. Our country is a secular state. In this secularism, everyone has a right to adopt and left any religion, pay the best regard to all religions. But it has and has been observed that people are fighting on the name of religions. It means that our education system has failed to teach a lesson of secularism to the students. It has and has been becoming major challenge of education. Suggestions Suggestions Following points should be kept in mind while framing new curriculum and developing system of education. Formation of good character. Balanced between theoretical and practical work Social concepts concerned activities Freedom of enquiry and social responsibility Full utilization of technology for welfare of society. Truth based politics. Continuous renovation with the growing irrelevance of some knowledge. Cultivation of excellence Importance of freedom to celebrate and work together Sense of Critical and creative thinking and awareness A social consciousness unafraid to undertake social criticism Problem solving approach and emergence of new social order A sense of commitment. .Acquisition, transmission and addition of new knowledge Social relevance of knowledge Establishing an organic link with the community through extension work Sympathetic and empathic attitude concerned activities. Environmental awareness and concerned projects. Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies
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Social evils uprooted concerned activities. Measures to maintained education sustainability. Economic resources management theory as well as well practical work. Knowledge of different cultures and traditions, and preservation concerned activities. Knowledge of secularism. Knowledge of terrorism and measures of reducing it Knowledge of human values and concerned activities Conclusion Education is considered the backbone of any nation. Education is the mirror of progress and development of any country. Education is considered a third eye of human being. Every developed and developing country trying to provide a good education and health service to concerned country. India is developing country and trying to provide best education and health services. India is a country of secular state, unity and diversity, cultures and traditions, and democratic. No, doubt our country is trying to make best efforts to provide best education to countrymen, drastic changes has been occurred, various policies have framed in comparison to ancient time, yet, various challenges of education before government due to environmental hazards, scarcity and distribution of economic resources, terrorism, religious, character, sustainability, commitment, social, ethical, misuse of technological resources, empathic attitude, political interference, automation and quality education. it is need of hour to frame best education policies keeping in view of different cultures, traditions, environmental hazards, economic resources, secularism, democracy and terrorism, irrespective caste, colour, creed and politics interference. The writer have full faith that our country will very soonly face the challenges of education and overcome on educational problems with full bravery and wisdom. References Aggarwal J.C. (nd.) Theory and Principles of Education. New Delhi:Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. Aggerwal J.S.(2005) Education for values, Environment and Human Rights, Shipra Pubilication, Vikas Marg Shakaarpur Delhi-1100092 Bhardwaj Tilak Raj(1999)Education of Human Values,Mittal Publication Mohan Garden New SDelhi-110059 Goyal,B R (1979)Documents on Social, Moral and Spiritual Values in Education, NCERT,New Delhi. Jamwal,B.S(2017) Ethics and values in higher education, scholarly research journal for interdiciplinary studies,5/44,10495-10496 Jamwal, B.S (2018 )Value Education, New Delhi:APH publication
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