Vishwa Kalyan Award 2018

 Education 

Padmini Arhant

In August, the Vishwa Kalyan Award recipients are unveiled for their service to humanity with universal benefit.

This year 2018 – the award recognizes three areas having greater impact and healing power on humanity.

They are – education, corruption and nursing profession including paramedics in medicine.

Education – The cornerstone in life to establish individual identity. Education is not everything learned in the classroom or lecture hall at school and college. Education begins at birth with life teaching every step of the way throughout lifetime. There are different types of education. The diploma, degree and higher academic achievements are acquired education by learning from text books and methods such as lab experiments and research in the conventional system. The education from standard means with qualifications and titles from A-Z next to a name perhaps serve the economic requirements in attracting job offers and enhancing social status but they do not entirely represent indigenous knowledge and inherent talent.

There are many so-called highly qualified in varied professions finding themselves in a fix when they are confronted with issues not covered in chosen educational course within their occupation. The definition of qualification is superficially confined to degree and diplomas rather than assessment on ability to perform and deliver effectively in related field or otherwise including changing conditions and environment demanding critical thinking and implementation process. While the learned and scholarly contribute to understanding and interpretation of established information and concepts in the set parameters, the gifted on the other hand possess unique ability to explore new horizons, deal with challenges and pioneer cause for greater good.

The education from life through active and passive experience provides guidance especially the mistakes and negative impact are precursors moving forward to avert repeat incident. Life without a shadow of doubt is the best friend, guide and philosopher in teaching, training and tackling simple to hard tasks along the way.

Education is reflective in values more than degree and accolades for the former determine human character and intellect relevant in meaningful existence to self and others.

There are many institutions offering education to people in any particular domain. These institutions are classified as private and public schools distinctive in financial status, facilities and recognition. Having personally experienced the private and public school atmosphere, I certainly vouch for the latter due to exposure to the real world that one has to live and accommodate different facets of human background, a requirement the private elitism find difficult to adjust with and accept though heavily dependent on the labor and services of those from public school education being the overwhelming majority in different parts of the world.

The elite institutions are fundamentally discriminatory in catering to the affluent and powerful with a quota for admission to students related to politicians, celebrities and certain religious segment or preference granted on racial affirmation exempting them from meritocracy that are otherwise applicable to others competing in the mainstream category. Furthermore, the private educational institutions asserting premium quality education again not without extraordinary costs promote selectivity and bias creating hierarchy in society. The students from modest families attending private schools are usually burdened with student loans prior to start of their career.

In enrollment criteria barring the above mentioned back channel entrants connected to politics, race, religion and fame, the elite schools for higher studies seek applicants with top scores in the exams which means they only acquire the result oriented students among whom some are isolated regardless of their exemplary academic and personal attributes exhibiting prejudice against them. Such decisions are without a question politically motivated as well.

In choosing the top scorers from general applicants to boost own reputation, the so-called esteemed institutions ride on the mainstream enrollees back for private endowments. The prestige and symbolism arising from enormous financial clout enables them to invest in publicity and projects to benefit them. The principle to achieve anything by any means with little or no concern for ethics and consequences of such actions regularly witnessed among the protégé selected as highest office bearers on land and influential members in society.

There is also a sense of superiority among certain creed of elite institutions displaying insolence and condescendence overshadowing anything they pretend to possess in the name of aptitude. 

In contrast, the public schools tied to state and federal funding struggle to cope with politics prioritizing tax dollars towards military expenditure and other discretionary spending over education affecting families in the middle and lower economic strata. The school districts rely on parents and charity groups for school supplies and technology like computers, printers and equipment necessary for efficient learning. The situation is worse in the poorer, disenfranchised and underprivileged sections deprived of fair access to basic education due to lack of schools in the rural or remote areas forcing students to commute long distance.

With respect to higher studies, the community colleges as public institutions surviving on meager budget and limited resources provide education to anyone transcending social economic status. The community college welcome students unable to gain entry in prominent institutions for reasons linked to economic or lower academic performance and give them an opportunity to improve their prospects for a college degree. The community college accredited programs continue to assist many students aspiring college transfer to institutions of their choice having been unable to get in the first time. The community colleges offer second chance and more to students rejected by middle and top tier institutions encouraging them to strive hard and reach for their goals unlike the private establishments’ rigid selection process.

The community colleges nurture positive environment for students to develop self-confidence and foster inner strength to build their future instead of neglecting them as failures. They turn hope into reality for many students removing barriers from the path of individual ambitions.

Accordingly, Vishwa Kalyan Award for education goes to community colleges and in this regard the community college in Silicon Valley, California – De Anza College is recognized for the track record.

The awardees in the other two categories will be presented shortly.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

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