The aims and objectives of education are:
• to give the students a sense of values to actualize himself as an individual to play a useful part in society
• to evolve him as a responsible citizen in society
• to give him training in leadership
• to teach him an appreciation of art and life and
• to help him develop life skills and communication skills

For the attainment of these objectives, schools and colleges are expected to conduct certain activities and introduce certain healthy practices. Unfortunately, this is not found in our educational institutions nowadays. Education tends to be less and less for the preparation for an effective role in social life, and more and more for the preparation for the vocation. The worth of the human being should be measured not by his capacity to earn money but by his contribution to the society and service to the people. In fact, the aim of education is to create a society which works, in which everybody cares enough and shares enough, when the work and the wealth of the country are made available to all but not appropriated and exploited by the few.

In olden days, there used to be a class called ‘moral instruction’, which was handled by a senior teacher. He used to tell the students about manners, morals, etiquette and values like reverence for the elders, chivalry towards women, kindness towards the poor and other social graces. Today, this practice is continued in very few schools and colleges.
Likewise, schools and colleges do not conduct extra-curricular activities like sports and games. Ninety percent of the institutions do not have playgrounds and facilities for sports and games. Such activities promote leadership training. The principles of sportsmanship are:

Ø The umpire’s decision must be respected.
Ø The captain’s instructions must be accepted.
Ø The players should have teamwork and should not play for individual glory.
Ø One should not exploit the opponent’s infirmities in an unfair manner.
Ø One should not insult or humiliate the defeated team.

These are also the principles of democracy and social behavior. Today, it is disgusting to watch on the T.V. the behavior of the legislators who defy the rulings of the Speaker and invade the podium and stage walkouts on some pretext or other.

In the olden days, there used to be activities like music, drama and other fine arts which imparted to the students an aesthetic sense and appreciation of beauty. Such activities sensitize the students to the nuances and finer aspects of life. A person who is trained in such practices will not do anything violent and ugly. Such activities teach the boys and girls to respect each other and maintain discipline. Discipline should not be imposed from above but observed by a voluntarily adopted code of conduct.

There used to be debates, elocution and essay writing events to give training in communication skills to students. Today, even students who get first classes and ranks cannot speak or write. When employers conduct written tests and oral tests, they cut sorry figures. These social skills are necessary in their life and daily transactions. The university commissions and committees mentioned in their reports that a vast majority of students are unemployable! Argument is bad but discussion is good. Argument is to find out who is right. Discussion is to find out what is right. The former leads to acrimony but the latter leads to teamwork and joint undertakings which are beneficial to the community.

N.S.S and N.C.C are good for the discipline and service-mindedness of the students. Colleges are paying only lip sympathy to these activities. As they are not made compulsory, only a few students are joining these schemes. It should be made compulsory for students and credit must be given to students in examinations. It should also be made compulsory for teachers to play a leadership role in such activities. The Radha Krishnan Commission recommended that a college teacher should possess three qualifications:
v Academic distinction
v Teaching ability
v Leadership in student activities

There should be a shift of emphasis from classroom teaching to the creation of desirable social atmosphere in the campus.

Old values and ideals are tumbling down and new ones have not taken their place. Reverence for those in authority and the elders which was a beautiful mark of our ancient culture has vanished. The old reverence was partly based upon tradition and convention. Suspicion and hostile feelings are in the air. Cut throat competition has replaced co-operation. Students are no longer empty vessels into which learning can be poured. There is lack of attachment to their alma mater. How to recapture the lost rapport between the teacher and the taught? Their involvement in the politics is a reality. How to counter politicization of education? These are the challenges today. The teachers have to influence the students with their genuine scholarship and their role as facilitators and guiding friends.

Campus life should be a thrilling and rewarding experience with opportunities offered to bring out the excellence in students and the facilities for leadership training and more than anything, the teacher’s personal example of devoted service to the welfare of the youth. 

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