Students Unrest

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.