Students Unrest
Students’ unrest
is characterized by “collective
discontent, dysfunctional conditions in educational institutions and concern
(of public and students) for change in existing norms”. Students ‘agitations,
on the other hand, are characterized by ‘action based on the feeling of injustice,
identifying source of discontent, frustration and deprivation, emergence of
leadership, mobilization for action, and collective reaction to stimuli’.
Students are the most important part of the
population of our country. They are our country’s future. If they follow good
moral values, they will take our country to the next level. If they will follow
a disciplined life, they may free our country from all the social monsters.
Discipline will also give the students a bright future. Indiscipline in the
students can now be seen very commonly. This indiscipline does not mean bunking
classes or making noise in the classroom.
If the students are not guided at the correct stage then this may take
the form of a new problem for the society.
Main Causes of Student Unrest in India:
1. Defective Education System:
The
present education system does not fulfill its proposed aims and nor does it
give the students any practical skill which can make them capable of taking up
any job after their education.
As
a result, the students do not find themselves capable of fending for
themselves. Passing of examination has become the sole aim of present
education.
2. Aimless Life and Uncertain Future:
The
present education does not give the student any such qualifications which may
assure to them a certain future. Now- a-days, there is great unemployment in
our country. The report of the Employment Directorate tells us that during 1965
and 1970, the number of unemployed persons has doubled.
This
situation makes it clear that unemployment in the country is on the increase.
The young generation is the victim of this unemployment. Consequently, student
unrest and indiscipline has touched it peak.
3. Economic Difficulties:
Our
economic difficulties have become so complex, that we do not know as to what
will be the economic situation in the future. Most of our students come from
families that are economically poor. Such families cannot easily give higher
education to their children. Sixty per cent of our students generally do not
get education after high school.
4. Excessive Number of Students in the Class:
Generally,
the number of students in every class is so high that the students and teachers
are unable to establish contact with each other, that is, the teachers are
unable to understand the difficulties of individual students.
In
such a situation, unrest and indiscipline amongst students is not surprising.
5. Defective Teaching Methods:
The
teaching methods in our schools, colleges and universities have become
defective. They do not arouse curiosity in the students for new knowledge nor
do they increase knowledge. The result is that the students do not find the
classes interesting nor are feeling of respect generated towards most of the
teachers who have an indifferent attitude.
Consequently,
students pass the examination by hook or by crook, such as, cramming or on the
basis of guess papers sold freely in the market or on the basis of copying in
the examination-hall by terrorizing the invigilators.
6. Indifference of the Family-Members:
The
influence of the family members on the students is negligible to-day.Needless
to say that so long as the responsible members of the family do not fulfill
their responsibility towards their wards, the indiscipline prevailing amongst
students will not end and nor will the unrest and discontent calm down.
7. Unsuitable Teachers:
To-day
in our schools, colleges and universities, we find many such teachers who have
no interest in their teaching work. They are either engaged in petty politics
or in manipulations. Such teachers present a wrong example by their behaviour
and conduct. As such, the students coming in contact with such teachers learn
nothing but roguery.
8. Student-Union:
In
our various educational centers, the students naturally are eager to organize
unions and generally they are provided adequate facilities to do so. But in the
process of organization and elections of these unions, various political
parties and teacher-politicians try to serve their vested interests. The
interference of the political elements vitiates the nature of the student
unions in various ways and generates a sense of indiscipline in the students.
9. Lack of Co-curricular and Creative Activities:
In
fact, the aim of education is to develop the entire personality of the
individual harmoniously. This development is not possible only through the
curricular teaching.
For
this, various co-curricular activities such as games, sports, contests,
competitions, dramas, music, magazines, collective social service, etc., are
necessary because through them the different aspects of the personality of a
person manifest themselves and attain the high state of development.
10. Defective Examination System:
The
examination system is such that the teaching process has become dependent on
it. The passing of examination has become the sole aim of education. Due to
this examination system, the students have begun to think that there is no need
of studying throughout the year and only a little study near the examination
time will be sufficient.
So
rest of the time may be spent recklessly. As a result of this tendency, the
students are left with a lot of unoccupied time which they spend in
indisciplined activities of various types.
11. Elements of Indiscipline and Anarchy Prevailing in the
Society:
The
elements of indiscipline and anarchy prevailing in the society, in fact are
reflected in the indisciplined behaviour of students. Generally, the students
may be divided in three categories.
1. The first category consists of those students who
are interested in studies and after finishing the studies they become
engineers, doctors, administrators and other Civil Servants.
2. The second category is of those students who take
admission in colleges and universities simply as a matter of fashion. Such
students mostly come from traders, contractors and other business class
families.
3. The third category is of the student politicians.
They are connected with different political parties and at their instance they
indulge in various kinds of indisciplined activities.
Remedies for Student
Unrest:
1. System of Education:
A thorough overhauling for our education system is
necessary to help the students to face the problems and challenges of life. No
hotch-potch change in education would suffice. But education requires a
comprehensive planning and an integral approach.
This would bridge the gap between what the students
actually experience and what is taught to them in schools and colleges.
Colleges and universities should make proper
provision for
1.
adequate
boarding and lodging facilities,
2.
better libraries
and reading rooms and laboratories,
3.
enough
facilities for recreation and extra-curricular activities
4.
Seminar and
tutorial, system.
2. Employment Opportunities:
Efforts should be made to provide opportunities for
the students to offer courses in agriculture, engineering, business management,
commerce, medicine, etc. The spirit of self-reliance must be created and the
students should be encouraged to set up business and cottage industries of
their own.
3. Provision for Leisure-time
Activities:
Students should not be allowed to idle their time.
Hobby clubs and workshops catering to painting, music, photography, stamp
collection, swimming, etc. may be established in colleges. Indoor games,
dramatic performances, excursions and picnics, functions catering to the
interest of fine arts and literature must be encouraged among them.
4. Economic Difficulties:
Poor and the needy students should be given
financial help through scholarships, free ships, loan scholarships, free hostel
facilities, stipends, etc. so that they do not drop out of schools and
colleges. The programme of ‘earn while you learn’ needs to be well organised.
5. Discipline:
Students should be assisted in developing
self-discipline for it is long lasting than the imposed discipline. Acts of
indiscipline should be dealt with sternly, but of course, humanistically. The
teachers must play an important role in this respect.
6. Able Leadership:
Students very badly need able and efficient
leadership. In any democratic set-up leadership is very important. Leadership
training programmes under supervision should be introduced in colleges.
Politicians must not be allowed to misguide the students.
7. Role of Political Parties:
Political parties should be kept out of the college
campuses. The students should have political awareness, but their active
participation in politics would spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the campus.
The student leaders, teachers and university authorities must make joint
venture to save education and campus from power politics.
8. Students’ Participation:
As Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao, Ex-Union Minister for Education
has suggested (in his address to the Commonwealth Inter-University Conference
in New Delhi, Jan. 1970) ‘Students the world over have become restive and are
demanding a Voice in the affairs of universities and a fair share in running
the machine and in decision-taking.
This demand cannot be evaded for long except at
great peril’. In brief, the students should be given ample opportunities to
take part in the administrative bodies of the university.
Conclusion:
It is true that there is youth unrest. But it is a
part of the national malady. The student as a class can play a vital role in
any attempt to change the national scene,. Student activism is positively anti-
establishment. Events, crises and challenges of constructive activity have
shown that he can rise to the occasion and meet the challenges of
reconstruction.
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