On Dec 30, 2013, at 3:46 AM, Sharmila Rao <[email protected]> wrote:
'2. Take up a job that links you to some Whiteman’s land Okay, our education system is not like the west. So how do you reckon we can make it on par? Though I am not sure why we should have a system that is occident friendly instead creating skills and knowledge required to enhance our country. The fundamental criteria for choosing a subject and career stream is not the child’s interest, or even talent, the sole criteria is does the qualification get him/her a job abroad, preferably in the west. What I am trying to say is our education has alienated us from ourselves. We refuse to repay our society, for what it has given us; neither do we care enough to have a vision for our country and our future we know we have slave lords who can hire us.' ----------COMMENT-----------: Dear Sharmila, That is one, albeit wishful and myopic, way of looking at it. Different individuals set different goals for themselves and their families. Some do well (very well) in India, others abroad. To each his or her own. The world is a global village now. All this talk of 'white man's land' is so 20th century and definitely passé. One sure way to succeed in keeping the kids 'home' is by making them unemployable in the West. There were some communist countries which prevented the young and qualified not-so-young from migrating, and there were some Asian countries which changed the medium of instruction from an international language to a local one. In Goa, some folks are trying to do that with both Konkani and English. Those folks are supported by the Devanagri only for Konkani folks. (please check what language their own kids are educated in and where they are presently working). Perhaps, the plan is to frustrate one segment of Goan society into leaving Goa for good (say by securing European nationality courtesy Portugal) and confiscating or 'quieting' their properties after expelling them from Goa. I did digress. Even so, I am sure you will write about how you tried or are trying it on your own kids and how it has worked out or is working out for them. jc
