At present, our educational system does not allow our children to explore their potential fully, as the system is based on rote learning, devoid of any creativity and innovation. This lack of interest and motivation is one reason why so many drop out of school.
Every individual is unique and born with certain inherent potential or talent, which helps in learning things easily and quickly. Psychologists call this ‘aptitude’. In Pakistan, however, the preferred method of instruction assumes that everyone can learn different materials in the same pedagogy, without assessment and evaluation of aptitudes of students of various grades and levels. Due to the lack of a learner-centred approach along with the lack of counselling and guidance about their aptitudes, many students face uncertainty in their selection of subjects and career path.
To meet this challenge, educational institutions must shift their focus from theoretical teaching to a leaner-centred, practical approach along with adequate counselling and guidance for students to understand their potential and aptitude, to chose the right career path and to be empowered in their educational choices.
Like every child, I also used to hate school, getting up early in the morning, getting scolded for talking, sometimes detention and studying subjects that one hates the most, overlooking all the benefits school has.
But everything changed with the arrival of Covid-19. In the beginning of the pandemic, when schools were initially closed, that indeed was a time of joy for most of us. This was until online schooling showed us how important school life was for learning in a different environment other than home, for our social life, working with responsibility without using shortcuts and having a proper routine. If the pandemic hadn’t hit us this hard, we might have never realised the importance of school and student life.
School life plays an integral role in fostering leadership and enhance innovative thinking in students. Our teachers are the ones who encourage us, teach us manners, obedience and how to work hard.
We not only develop talent and teamwork, but also learn how to stand up after falling.
Student life allows us to detach ourselves from our domestic life, and be exposed to an environment where we slowly mature with friends of our age. We discover things such as sportsmanship, our interests, cooperation, strengths and weaknesses. We learn how to be more determined after failure.
During this era, we make friends, find likeminded people who we hang on to lifelong and come across fake people who are like passers-by on the street.
We make great memories, experience laughter and tears, take part in extra-curricular activities and make our parents proud. We learn to mingle with other people and turn out to be confident, motivated young men and women.
Despite all the struggles, sacrifices and hard work of blood, tear and sweat, I admit that this is still the best phase of my life. It was all worth it after all.
We enter the school weeping and exit the school weeping. But the tears at both instances are very different. Why? Because it is a phase of life that is unforgettable, no matter what.
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