Developmental Psychology! Reforming the Frontline Education System in India!

The side effects of a bad education system show up late!

THE AIM OF THIS ARTICLE!

If you are an Indian, you would know a majority of students here are confused about making a choice when it comes to higher studies, career & consider themselves as a failure since they haven't performed well with school academics. Why is this so? Where do we troubleshoot this problem? Is there a right solution? is what this article aims at!

CHALLENGES FACED BY THE YOUTH OF TODAY!

I have been in the skill development training sector on animation & visual effects (CG) for the last 18 years grooming students from the age group of 17 to 25. A majority of the students who take up these programs haven't performed well in school and have been treated by school, parents, and society as a failure. The system that has evaluated them as a failure has left all these students with very low self morale.

Can we change the way these kids are being judged from their very young age till they become adults?

Most of the students who join these vocational training programs look totally confused about their interest All they want is a job and the only question from their parents is that, if my son/daughter takes up this program, will they settle down in life, that's it. Some of the very common qualities that anyone would note with these kids are low self-esteem and confidence, confusion, a feeling of failure since they haven't performed well in their school. A series of counseling sessions on identifying one's interest, self-motivation, and the right training program on skill development has helped them start a career. The number of efforts we have put in with these students is too exhaustive since they walk into the same mode repeatedly.

If the foundation education system was right the kid wouldn't have to go through this during their teen!

WHERE DO WE BEGIN OUR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS?

What's the root cause of this issue? and is there a way to make sure this problem doesn't arise for them is what my mind was on consistently. I always felt that's not the age to troubleshoot. If at all we had empowered them with a good Frontline Education System they wouldn't face these issues later on in their life.

An education system in sync with the developmental psychology of kids! wouldn't that be fantastic?

The nature of young ones is to feel joyful all the time, be inquisitive, learn on their own, being energetic, enthusiastic & independent till a certain point of time in life. If the schooling system begins with a training methodology that is in sync with the nature of a kid for the first 10 years, then it will allow the intelligence to blossom as he or she grows into a teen.

Unfortunately, today's education system begins with controlling the kid. Two major aspects of the Frontline Education System that I would like to discuss in this article are

1. Subjects Taught
2. Training Methodology

Though I am writing this article today, it's definitely not a Eureka moment, but a sum up of my overall experience with these children. Subjects taught to children in the Frontline Education System as in, from the time schooling begins till before teen, has to be designed keeping in mind the developmental psychology of children, technology revolution, cultural changes and most importantly helping them identify their natural interests, skills and get clear about their professional career choice as they grow up.

The other most important factor is to deliver these subjects in a particular methodology which I had named it as "Participatory Developmental Learning & Demonstration (PDLD)" and below are the list of subjects to be taught through this methodology.

• Mother Tongue
• Human Values
• Environmental Education & Planet Earth
• Maths & English
• Developmental Practical Science
• Human Physiology, Food & Balanced Nutrition
• Art, Music & Dance
• Outdoor & Indoor Games

......To Be Continued