Mohd Rafi Bhat
In the picturesque valley of Kashmir – a silent crisis is unfolding that threatens the future of entire generation.Reports indicate that absenteeism in educational institutions has soared and attendance is plummeting to its lowest ebb.
Simultaneously,instances of wayward behaviour ranging from moral lapses to disengaging of societal norms are on the rise among the youth This dual headwind is not merely a statistical anomaly but a reflection of deeper systematic issues exacerbated by the callousness of the parents and guardians. Kashmiri students are increasingly absent from classrooms and are drifting towards unproductive or even harmful paths.
The extent of absenteeism is alarming and that of waywardness is pathetic. It has now turned into a ‘Silent epidemic’.Waywardness often manifests as eve-teasing, loitering around coaching centres is linked to absenteeism. I may dare to mention that a teacher was ridiculed by a student just because he objected to his unsolicited dress-code(uniform).
The root causes of these issues are multi-faceted deeply intertwined with the lax approach of parents and guardians towards their flock.Infact,a teacher once took to social media highlighting the negative behaviour of some learner in the school was commented upon as ‘Sab teacher ki galti hai’ (The teacher are at fault) which utterly shocked me as teacher and parent.Some allege post COVID-19,the formative years of students are marred by instability,to some-the dispirited teachers and to some others it is the under-developed infrastructure.But I fail to understand,how have we produced the gems in the past who learned under the shade of the Maple Tree.The sane people out there attribute the modern distractions like smartphones,virtual screens and PS5s exacerbate the wayward tendencies and thus absenteeism. The student wants to become an overnight diva and is often witnessed making reels in the school compound (if by any chance they visit school).To him,”smart work is the need”.But teachers stretched themselves to enlighten and educate them that only hardworker is a smart worker
.Infact the mushrooming of online apps has rendered the class out of class and obsolete.They were meant to supplement the classwork not ot replace it.Besides,their aim is to transact the subject matter to its consumers not to inculcate the values and the value-based education.Though they proved a boon by bridging in the unbridged.
The NEP-2020 rightly termed as the Bible for the transformational education which lays emphasis on the flexible learning is often mis-interpreted.It does repeal the school at the cost of flexibility but aims at bringing flexibility in learning.The unsupervised teenager is a rudderless ship.He may sail the ship but won’t reach the destination this leading to academic failure despite parental expectations.The unresponsive or else wrong-responsive parents have turned the potential innovators,writers,medicos,theologians, scientists into a disengaged youth.
The consequences are profound and far-reaching.Mentally,the region faces and epidemic.Absenteeism perpetuates the cycle of lost opportunities as irregular attendance co-relates poorer social adjustments and diminished career prospectus.Waywardness and absenteeism frays the social fabric eroding Kashmiriyat-the ethos of tolerance.Addressing this two-pronged issue is of the stark need.Otherwise,it would vandalise the very spirit of learning and growing by learning.If the problem remains unchecked on the parents end,it will transit into rowdyism.Since there is a very fine line between the two.Even the Aristotle remarked ,”Early guidance in the youth makes a great difference ,rather all the difference.”Besides the Poet of the east’s couplet in the Bang-e-Dara is a loud message to the prime youth;
Haya nahi Zamane ki aankh main baaki
Khuda kare ki Jawani Teri rahe be daag.
The poet laments about the decline of modesty and values which seems no longer visible in the present world.
Let the parents not indulge in the blame game instead pull the socks up for mentoring their responsible future lineage.
The author is a teacher at the Department of school Education,Govt of Jammu and Kashmir (UT) and can be reached at mohdrafi_bhat@gmail.com.
