CLASSROOM LEARNING ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH

'By all means, learn beyond the classrooms. At the end, that's all that will matter" this remark of Gossy Ukan Woke portrays the significance of the outside classroom experiences for making a child as a creator instead a rote learner. However, in the process of education, the classroom has its importance but it is making a child classroom centered and timid. It is very interesting to notice that classroom teaching has pruned the creativity of the child. Further, it is noticeable that all the innovations and discoveries have been made outside the classroom through observation.

Just recollect how Charaka made his researches on plants and introduced a medical system "Ayurveda"? How Newton had discovered his laws? How Archimedes had innovated his principle? How Sir Mendel had postulated the laws of genetics? How Darwin had rolled out the misconceptions about evolution? How Edward Jenner had developed Vaccines against dreadful diseases? All the above situations would reflect that creativity has its manifestation beyond the classroom instead of the classroom. Of course, in a classroom learning does occur and it is merely academic but not surely life supporting and inventive.

The recent remarks of AICTE chairman Dr. Anil D Sahasrabudhe have grabbed the attention of the intellectuals about "education beyond the classroom". Yes, it is a very good remark and need of the hour. The employers have denied the present-day classroom product for jobs due to a lack of abilities. This has become the biggest hurdle in the realization of the demographic dividend. It is an appalling thing that even in this technocratic era our classrooms have become information cramming centers. The seeker of education had a limited opportunity to learn outside the classroom and to observe the surroundings. It is a pathetic thing that the children now are forced to behave like an ostrich and compelled to learn unwanted things and pressurised accordingly.

It was a right remark of Edward De Bono "Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns to look at things differently? "However, today what type of practices are going on in all educational institutions? The methodology of teaching in the educational institutions itself has become a mere transfer of information.

The corporate institutes are making the children as caged birds and making them diffident. It is an appropriate thing to illustrate how Mendel has uncovered the heredity and its causative factors. He used to walk in the premises of Church, noticed the seven different characters of Pea plant, and explored the reasons for that by experimenting nearly 10,000 above plants to conclude arithmetically in 18th century.. Do the schools and colleges are providing these types of direct and purposeful experiences to the children by exposing them to the surroundings? Literally, No. That is why the younger generations have become more informative instead innovative.

The time has come to think about not to confine the seekers of education to the classroom and provide more opportunities for them to learn outside the classroom. The professional colleges such as medical colleges also ignoring the significance of practical knowledge and not exposing them to the simulated conditions that they will improve their efficiency.

If this condition endures for some more time, surely it will be a bigger threat to the nation's development. However, our country has recorded quantitative progress in the field of education yet it has to record qualitative progress. We cannot buy all the time by boasting ourselves enchanting the names of Satya Nadella and Sunder Pitchay are the measuring rods for the efficacy of our system. Today's younger generation is lacking the maladjustment, problem-solving skills, effective communication skills, and very intolerant because they do not have opportunities to learn the systematics of life outside of the classroom.

It is very unfortunate to notice that the top-rated college product is also substandard and not studded with employable skills.

Further, it is a very ludicrous thing to notice even the newly appointed public sector employees are unable to discharge their duties in a righteous manner and to needy. This situation should have to be changed with the exposure of the student tribe to outside classroom situations along with classroom experiences.

It was noticeable that we had a good old "Ashram education system" in which disciples have more chances to receive more outside classroom experiences to live happily.

However, gradually it has confined to four walls and making an individual as a half-baked product. This has become a bigger threat to the nation's development.