How do we describe the contemporary student community? The answer is simple. It is very different from what it was a decade ago, which had children with almost all the qualities that made up a good student.
Irrespective of the numerous and positive aspects of the present student community, it has to be said that it is plagued by the many negatives that the society created, which they find tough to withstand. The most important qualities necessary in the making of a student are being eroded thanks to the ‘super fast mode’ of life that all of us have designed and still cherish.
Even as parenting assumes new dimensions and poses more challenges, it should be noted that being a student is no mean task too. To put it bluntly, parenting has become more of a burden with no clear vision of how it has to be responsibly discharged.
And the effect? Children have become ‘pressure receptors’, trying hard to thrive in a society where ‘A and A+grades’ have more value over everything else. What goes unnoticed in the process is the loss of the children’s innocence, their natural flair and many other unique tastes and skills, that may be too hard to bring back once lost.
We see a student fraternity where stress, depression, anxiety and tension are common. Lack or absence of social bonding within the family and outside, degradation in morals, values and ethics and an ever increasing tendency to rely on TV, mobile phones and the internet coupled with inputs from a highly misleading society have made students a highly vulnerable lot.
As academic and behavioural problems continue to rise among children, along with those related to communication (speech, language and hearing) and nutrition, the time is more than ripe to scientifically assess the students. This is necessary to identify and provide remedies for a host of problems that would have a bearing not only on the academic front, but also on their behaviour and overall personality. The result would facilitate the emergence of a generation that would have students who could be groomed to become part of a society that is responsive and responsible, making this place much better for each one to live in.
Thus, the demand for a newer generation, which is stronger emotionally than physically, is gaining strength.
The Indian mindset is changing gradually, though not as expected, in dealing with the ‘beyond normal level’ problems under consideration. Irrespective of advancements over the years on many fronts and the change in the social fabric of our society, the stigma associated with visiting a psychologist or a speech therapist has not changed much.
It has to be mentioned that there is a spurt in the number of problems related to Learning Disability (LD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder( ODD ), Conduct Disorder(CD) Emotional and Behavioural Disorders (EBD) and much more. Let us not go deep into Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The figures will probably sent shivers down the spines of many.
Speech Delays are very common and so are obesity and overweight. Hearing related problems are on the rise, thanks to high decibel surroundings and technology that entices use of head phones. Comprehensive Assessments clearly bring out the hidden problems to the fore, through counselling techniques and other methods. They are eye openers in the sense that they address many minor aspects perceived by children, teachers and parents in different ways.
In our system, which is more reactive than proactive, the consequences of such problems would be disastrous. The lack of awareness or the sheer negligence in addressing such issues has already taken a heavy toll on the student community. While on one end there is an urgent need to change the way we lead our lives, which are purely dictated by technology and love for gadgets and scant regard to interact with each other in a humane manner, there is also an urgent need to scientifically and comprehensively assess the student community, which is capable of transforming this world into a much better place.
(The writer is the Chief Guidance Officer of The Compass Team, an organisation that has been working with schools, students, parents and working executives for over 5 years ). He can be contacted at manojkrishnan@thecompassteam.in