Call to revamp education system

At the meeting attended by 600 delegates from 273 schools of Mumbai, one could sense the underlying exasperation of the speakers who said that the present generation of teachers left a lot to be desired.

However, others like MN Wahia of TIFR, said that within their limitations, teachers were doing `a damn good job’. He was also surprised at the lack of reaction from the large gathering at the criticism they were being subject to.

The programme started with a Poorna Kumbha reception. V Shankar of the SIES expressed sadness at the way education was becoming just another business. He added that by concentrating on setting up more higher education institutes when we should be providing primary education, was like creating a tree without roots.

According to Dr K Venkatasubramanian, member, Planning Commission (Education), teachers are good but not up to-date and that women’s education was being ignored. Hitting out strongly at educators he said that our education was making animals out of humans as the system created minds, lungs, hands and legs but no heart. Jagatguru, Jayendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Peetam, called for a teaching system based on Indian cultural values which could run parallel to a western scientific education. Talking to the teachers he said the gathering should try and absorb the new ideas that were being presented at the meet and understand their message.

Augustine Pinto, Mumbai sheriff, S Ramani, director, National Centre for Software Technology, Prof V G Kulkarni of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science and Education were also present.