Being born in a middle class family has its' downsides but it has got its fair share of perks as well. While I couldn't have all that I wanted, I never had any issues with the things that I absolutely needed. I went to one of the best schools in the city and was encouraged in any and all of my pursuits. Unfortunately though, the same couldn't be said for many of the kids that I grew up with.
I grew up in an area which had a largely farmer and labourer population. All of us laughed and learnt at the same local schools for kindergarten but I was put in an ICSE school afterward, while the others joined vernacular medium government schools. From there, the rift grew wider. There was an unspoken wall that separated me from them and both sides contributed to it. I was disappointed and confused but had no answer.
Today, I go to one of the best Engineering Schools in the country and some of the kids I grew up with haven't cleared matriculate. I don't mean to say that government school kids don't grow up to success or that you need a matriculate to be successful, but if they had been given the opportunities I had, they would have become far more successful! This is a problem that plagues every part of the country. A deficit of teachers, resources, and a lack of effort has led a lot of potential in this country go to waste. And I believe no number of NGOs, Philanthropists or Trusts can fix it without paying attention to where it is due.
It may be just me, but I've never found much meaning in activities such as Donation Drives that Clubs and Societies usually do as 'social service.' What is it that is being done, really? Service being rendered, or photographs taken for newsletters? I recently had the opportunity to listen to Vivek Sharma of the Piramal Foundation who echoed my exact thoughts when he said, "Don't go after NGO Careers. Seek out Impact Careers, and take them seriously!"
I have noticed NGOs and Career Opportunities popping up at avenues where there is grant money flowing in. Yesterday it was HIV, today it's Migrant Labourers, tomorrow it's something else. I don't believe it is about that. For me, it is about what I see as a solution to this problem. I see Education as a solution with the most potential that could possibly erase all problems we as a country face. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself when I say that, but the feeling remains nonetheless.
I do not believe working for an NGO and getting grant money is going to get us far. It is working with the Government and strengthening the Government's resources and facilities that are going to take us to tomorrow. I appreciate and greatly admire Teach For India's efforts to work with the Governments in these schools to strengthen the academic infrastructure of the country. It is very hypocritical that we as a mass seek Government Seats in Government Colleges and want Government Jobs but aren't willing to send our children to Government Schools because the education is subpar. What are we doing to fix it, asks no one. We don't have to change the world to see something happen. We should do our bit and have our fellowman do it too. Everything will follow with a butterfly effect.
To me, Excellent Education is there being equal opportunity and potential in every child from every part of the country irrespective of his/her background or support structure. Our schools creating leaders and seekers of knowledge and being centres of growth, not just for the children who attend it, but also for the parents and the community at large. And I want to do my bit to attaining this dream.
I have had the pleasure of listening to and interacting with some of the greatest minds of this country in the field of education and skill development such as Narayana Murthy, Shaheen Mistri, Kuldeep Dantewadia and many others and I try to assimilate bits and pieces from everyone's vision and give my own spin to it to form something new and unique. I have worked on many teaching models and plans that I would one day want to see implemented at a policy level. I believe my efforts that go into transforming a Teach For India Classroom to be the next generation of Leaders will allow me to have a grassroot exposure to how the education system is in its core and help me greatly in my future endevours as an education policy maker.
"Be the change you want to see", said Mahatma Gandhi. Probably one of his few statements that I am in contention. I don't have to be the change, I just have to do my bit!
Today, I go to one of the best Engineering Schools in the country and some of the kids I grew up with haven't cleared matriculate. I don't mean to say that government school kids don't grow up to success or that you need a matriculate to be successful, but if they had been given the opportunities I had, they would have become far more successful! This is a problem that plagues every part of the country. A deficit of teachers, resources, and a lack of effort has led a lot of potential in this country go to waste. And I believe no number of NGOs, Philanthropists or Trusts can fix it without paying attention to where it is due.
It may be just me, but I've never found much meaning in activities such as Donation Drives that Clubs and Societies usually do as 'social service.' What is it that is being done, really? Service being rendered, or photographs taken for newsletters? I recently had the opportunity to listen to Vivek Sharma of the Piramal Foundation who echoed my exact thoughts when he said, "Don't go after NGO Careers. Seek out Impact Careers, and take them seriously!"
I have noticed NGOs and Career Opportunities popping up at avenues where there is grant money flowing in. Yesterday it was HIV, today it's Migrant Labourers, tomorrow it's something else. I don't believe it is about that. For me, it is about what I see as a solution to this problem. I see Education as a solution with the most potential that could possibly erase all problems we as a country face. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself when I say that, but the feeling remains nonetheless.
I do not believe working for an NGO and getting grant money is going to get us far. It is working with the Government and strengthening the Government's resources and facilities that are going to take us to tomorrow. I appreciate and greatly admire Teach For India's efforts to work with the Governments in these schools to strengthen the academic infrastructure of the country. It is very hypocritical that we as a mass seek Government Seats in Government Colleges and want Government Jobs but aren't willing to send our children to Government Schools because the education is subpar. What are we doing to fix it, asks no one. We don't have to change the world to see something happen. We should do our bit and have our fellowman do it too. Everything will follow with a butterfly effect.
To me, Excellent Education is there being equal opportunity and potential in every child from every part of the country irrespective of his/her background or support structure. Our schools creating leaders and seekers of knowledge and being centres of growth, not just for the children who attend it, but also for the parents and the community at large. And I want to do my bit to attaining this dream.
I have had the pleasure of listening to and interacting with some of the greatest minds of this country in the field of education and skill development such as Narayana Murthy, Shaheen Mistri, Kuldeep Dantewadia and many others and I try to assimilate bits and pieces from everyone's vision and give my own spin to it to form something new and unique. I have worked on many teaching models and plans that I would one day want to see implemented at a policy level. I believe my efforts that go into transforming a Teach For India Classroom to be the next generation of Leaders will allow me to have a grassroot exposure to how the education system is in its core and help me greatly in my future endevours as an education policy maker.
"Be the change you want to see", said Mahatma Gandhi. Probably one of his few statements that I am in contention. I don't have to be the change, I just have to do my bit!