EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS OF THE THIRD WORLD

There are two final yet fundamental reasons why the educational models of Europe and the USA are irrelevant to the needs of the people of the Third world. First, since all the underdeveloped societies have entered, or are entering, a period of profound economic and social transformation and since the contours of the future are as yet vague, the need is for people to turn their hands and their minds to a wide range of occupations. The narrow specialization and increasing characteristics of the affluent societies could be disastrous; the need is for versatility, for people whose qualities are best summarized, secondly in view of the financial realities expensive education systems should have no place in the third world. Education if it is within the reach of the masses, must be so organized as to be cheap, easily disseminated and as far as possible financially self-supporting. While the costs of job training in the developed societies have increasingly been shifted by industry and business on to the shoulders of the taxpayers, these costs in the emerging nations will to a large extent, have to be borne by the enterprise.



If we think deeply in some way schooling is the most wastage of time of our life especially the examination system to induce conformity to grade, the divorce between theory and practice, the shameful wastage of young talents etc. Let’s analyze a small example- from my own experience i m saying during my school days from class VIII

to completion of my graduation i kept reading the same story of Gautam Buddha, Mahavir , the struggle for independence, ancient valley civilization etc. Don’t you think there are many other various topics and issues which could broaden the circumference of a students mind?



I prefer the idea that most people acquire most of their knowledge outside school rather then that of traditional thinking that most learning is the result of teaching. Let us discuss about the “skill centers” which would make possible the transfer to the community of skills already acquired by people who use them. Such centers would in many cases be attached to the work place itself, with employees and staffs supplying instructions as well as jobs to those who choose to use their educational credits this way. We have to rid ourselves of the idea that “manpower qualifications must precede employment, that schooling must precede productive work”. In fact, training and education should be on the job, with industrial plants not only offering after work training but also redesigning the industrial process so that it has education value. As Illich points out, the idea of conventional adult education counsel Which after a form compensatory training to the un privileged for what they have some how missed-over looks the fact that all education is an exercise in adulthood.

My suggestion is – the duration of formal obligatory schooling should be cut to 10 month as an academic year .In service apprenticeship and the like would provide most of what we term ‘Instruction’ and the two month each year would give leisure for the pursuit of insight.

I think this would lead towards a concrete step to achieve a visionary goal.

Problems of child labour in emerging India

One of the numerous problems that face India recognized by all but eluding solution in spite of best wishes and sustained efforts, is the problem of child labor. In the post-reform years the problem has assumed extra importance owing to the attempt to include social clause in the WTO agreement. Though child labor in India is found to be concentrated in specific areas or regions and in particular occupations and sectors, yet the issue acquire a new dimension following the revelation that concentration of child labor in India is the highest in the world. .

“When you look into a Childs eye you expect to see hope, trust and innocence but when you see these signs of childhood is replaced by betrayal, hunger, fear and suspicion we need to take serious stocks of ourselves and society we have created”.

It is shocking to know that in our country child laborers are equal to the population of Australia. In a UNICEF brochure it has been elaborately stated that if child labor were to be abolished and all children were to go to school, it is likely that the problems of over- population would decrease and India’s prosperity would increase.

In our towns and hamlets and at bus terminals children below the age of 14 years are engaged in roadside eating houses and tea-stalls. Children are employed in match and fireworks ( Sivakasi and Rohtak ), carpet weaving ( U.P.), beedi rolling ( Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra), diamond industry ( Gujarat) and in various other parts of the country in silver chain industry, textiles, power looms, handlooms, lorry body- building workshops, garages, domestic work, brick kilns and dyeing units. The indigent youths are forced to work for more than twelve hours with earnings disproportionate to work loads. No authority has so far bothered to curb this practice, notwithstanding the apex Court’s directions given about two-and-a-half years ago. Their masters can be compelled by the force of law to provide educational facilities to such kids so that they may develop into good citizens to shoulder higher responsibilities in the years to come.

AIMS OF ELIMINATING CHILD LABOUR

The Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP), a social action group making legal intervention to eliminate child labor system and promote primary education, which freed more than 1,000 child labourers and sent them to schools in Badamba block of Cuttack district in 2007. Project director of the NGO Ramakanta Satapathy a close friend of mine said that a survey had indicated that 3,000 children in the age group of 6-14 were engaged in various sectors in 36 panchayats of this block to supplement their family income. Since the area is a predominantly conglomerate of rural and tribal people, various secondary and tertiary sectors like beedi making, weaving, collection of minor forest produce, stone crushers, agriculture and other allied activities flourish here. Badamba was considered to be the state’s largest concentration of child labour with most of them working in hazardous conditions.

SO A BIG QUESTION ARISES WHAT SHOULD BE DONE APPROPRIATELY TO CURB THIS MENACE FROM OUR SOCIETY?

CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN MEDIA AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

There was a seminar conducted by All India Forum of Freelance writers at Bhubaneshwer on 25th May. The discussion was “what are the contemporary trends in media and International relations and arena”.

This is a short summary delivered by me in this regard.

With the end of the cold war between Soviet Russia and America, there seems to be a new, more relaxed and cooperative environment prevailing in the world politics. But this situation is very deceptive. Developments in the US, on the domestic front, and their balance of payment position, and Russia, on the political and economic front, have dampened the dominant outlook presented at the beginning of the current decade. The fight to influence the developing countries has ended. Most of the communist countries are now desperately trying to get aid and cooperation possible for restructuring their own countries.
In India, the new economic policy has been formulated, and is being implemented now. The economy is opening up for the participation of the foreign companies. But this is not shaping up as planned and already there are misgivings internally and fears expressed about the stability of the country by foreign investors. Ironically, in such a fluid situation, the experts from both the west and third world countries, like India, are discussing such issues-like environment protection, AIDS,NPT, etc.,to salvage mankind from being wiped off from the face of the earth. This contradiction needs to resolve before any meaningful effort could be made to reverse the trend in the Third world.
All these issues are reflected in the TV and Radio programmes, satellite communication has wired the whole earth. People sitting in any town in any country can hook their there TV to the satellites and watch programmes of their choice. Due to the speed with which things are happening, decades or even centuries could be compressed in a few years time.
In the Third world, there is a sharp decline in autocratic and dictorial rules. The military-led regimes in South American, African and Asian countries have gone back to the barracks. The popular governments are taking over the reins of running their countries. There is a marked visibility of people at the grass root level participating in government. What we are witnessing is a phase of maturity in the former colonies of the imperialist powers.
The media of the third world does realise this change in the national and international political and economical spheres. Exchanging of the TV programmes , specially educational programmes are seen on the TV screens of the Third world countries. In the recently concluded International Film Festival in New Delhi, the quality of the movies from the west left much to be desired. This revealed the status the West still gives to such an important country like India.
Thus, despite the large-scale changes brought about by technology, imbalance persists in the media and coverage of the developed west vis-à-vis the developing countries of the Third World.

BRAND BUILDING

Branding is a key defense against commoditization – a situation in which a company’s products and services become perceived by buyers as being interchangeable with those of other companies, so buying decisions become driven by price.

Branding – or “brand-building” – has become the El Dorado of corporate marketing departments, advertising agencies, design firms, and consultants. However, branding goes beyond an attitude, or a logo, or a slogan, or an advertising campaign. Branding is a long-term holding in which your marketing communications are relatively short-term investments. Your brand is a tangible corporate asset – an end toward which all your business efforts should work.

Branding your business You need to stand out from the herd when it comes to business. You need to be better, stronger and more adaptable than your competitors. You need to be eye-catching, fresh and hard to pass by. And if you have a brand you have an immediate advantage because you have a backbone, or a frame work, on which to hang your products.

A branded business carries with it an ideology. If people know the brand they know the company and what it stands for.

But what is a brand? A brand is the set of values, ideals, strengths and weaknesses that become tied to your business. A brand carries with it the power to inspire and influence your customers; it creates a set of subconscious associations in their minds and sets you apart from the herd.

Three steps for a successfull branding.

1)Look to your business mission statement and ask what it is that you want to promote. Of course you need to sell your product, you need to make money, but you also need to survive, and in order to do that you need to form an impression on your market.

2)Don’t copy your competitors, be original instead ­ look to companies that inspire you for inspiration.

3)Word of mouth is by far the most effective form of advertising. People ignore Pop-up windows, but they’ll listen to their best friend. If you provide a quality service people will recommend you.

4)Customers want quality. If you can provide quality at a decent price they will come back, inspiring customer loyalty is part of a strong brand identity.

While there are many things involved with branding your business, these simple steps should get you started, are not too expensive to implement as per PR and will greatly impact your business.

HOMOSEXUALITY IN INDIA

Article 377 of the Indian constitution says Homosexuality is a punishable offence. In fact each and every unnatural sexual relationship is regarded as an offence. This law was enacted by Lord Makel on 1850. According to this, the law doesn’t justify the person and there manners who are involved in such licentious act. Such acts are not ephemera for homosexuals, they enjoy it for their lifetime. So, in the post-independent period these people demanded to abolish this act. Many influential individuals, human rights activists demanded to legalise the right of Homosexuals by amending the constitution.

On the other hand many conservative and religious groups are strongly critcising this issue. While the government was saying that, the decision will be taken only after a general consensus from all segments of the society, Delhi High Court on Thursday gave it’s so called historical verdict saying “Mutually agreed gay sex in between adults is legal”.

Homosexuals are considering this verdict as a huge victory. So, now it’s time to see that the government or any other society is challenging this verdict in the apex court or not.

I personally think this system will affect the cultural ethos and values of Indian society where sex is still a very vulnerable issue.

According to government estimates, there are about 25 lakh gays and 1 lakh lesbians in the country. The highest concentration of homosexual men in India is in four major states — Maharashtra (48,000), Tamil Nadu (30,000), Delhi (28,000) and Gujarat (26,000). However, only 70% of the MSMs have identified themselves and are involved with NACO’s intervention programmes. Officials in NACO said that about 30% of them are still not covered.

Every coin has two sides. Theoretically we can say that it could harm our society ,but analyzing it practically and specially me being associated with NACO and health and family welfare department , I think these third sexual groups or (Gay’s) are the major segment of the society carrying the dangerous epidemic AIDS . Clandestinely they are always involved in such act, due to the fear of social restrictions and law; they can’t come for medical treatment. If there will be no such legal restrictions then they could be well treated and we can stop to spread this epidemic .UN has welcomed this verdict of High Court .It says it is an instrumental decision for other nation to liberalise this issue.

Now it is a much awaited issue to see just on the 150^th death anniversary of Mikel that his law will exist or will be abolished.

A story of a HIV/AIDS patient

It was a chilled morning of 26th Dec. when our team reached Malarpur of Hyderabad. In a nondescript slum area of that locality, a woman is digging earth at a feverish pace at a spot where human habitation ends and an expanse of sewage begins. She has been doing this for several days, unmindful of the blazing peak-summer sun. A good friend of mine Sasmita Sahoo asked her why you are doing this and she replied without any emotion: “I am digging a grave for myself.” If the resignation on her face and defeat in her voice shock you, her story will move you to tears.

Suguna was driven out of her in-laws’ house after her husband died of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and was ostracised by the village after she tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). She lost her one-year-old son to the deadly disease after two months of desperate efforts to feed the sick and hungry child. Now she is digging a grave for herself very close to where her child is buried – she knows very well that no one is going to do it for her when she succumbs to the disease. “At least in death, let me have some dignity,” she says.

The over 5 million HIV carriers across the country may empathise with Suguna, but a majority of the rest of the population either indifferent or ignorant of the victims of the virus. It is to shake them out of this attitude that peer educators from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) affiliated to the Chennai-based AIDS Prevention and Control Project (APAC) have adopted Suguna’s story as the script of a street play. The play has moved many an audience. To prevent and control a disease that has eluded cure in the past two decades, communication appears to be the only effective weapon, and APAC’s street plays have struck a chord.

Even if the country’s epidemic does not match the severity of those in southern Africa, it is clear that HIV and AIDS will have a devastating effect on the lives of millions of Indians for many years to come. so, now the time has come when It is essential that effective action should be taken to minimise this impact.