Thaare Zameen Par… This film by Amir Khan had won much commendation all over. The film revolved around a boy who was least interested in studies but had a great interest in drawing. When a teacher identifies his area of interest and encourages him, he naturally develops an interest in studies and scores higher marks. This movie by Amir pinpointed the loopholes in our education system.
Can an ordinary student score high marks through drawing ? Can a student who was thrown out of c school just because he was a dullard, secure distinction with just 20 days of training? Can anyone score 100 per cent in maths and science by dance? Can students who struggle to get pass marks enter the Limca book of Records? All this is made possible by the Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra run by Gopadkar in Mangalore. Our present education system is merely a certificate education. Here children are merely prepared for exams and finally a marks card is handed over to them. How should they build their future life ? Do they have the confidence to get a job? All this is immaterial before the certificate education.
| Mohammad Swaroop enters Limca Book
It is said parents influence a great deal on the personality development of students. Their tone as well as their expressions influence the children to a great extent. Gopadkar had specially trained the father of Mohammad Swaroop in this direction 12 years ago.The result is that Swaroop was in a position to name the capitals of all nations when he was just two year old. He also instantly answered some questions regarding mathematical calculations and entered the Limca Book of Records. |
As if an alternate to the existing system of education, Gopadkar has been running a n institution called Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra at Kunjatbail since the past 18 years wherein he has been experimenting with new ideas.
Gopadkar who dubs the present educational institutions as mere certificate factories, has set up his Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra with the objective of having an education system, which not only teaches but also develops the student. Students who score the least marks as well as those who are considered dullards in teachers language, after being trained under the special teaching methodology here, have scored good mars. Students are trained not just to score high marks in SSLC or to pass in exams. Each student has his own innate talent and capabilities and Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra tries to give a scope to the student to develop the same.
Each child has immense potential. The potential cannot be neglected merely for the reason that the child is dull in studies, says Gopadkar. In order to help such children, Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra tries to sharpen the memory power of such children by educating them through dance, painting and such other art and develops an interest in studies in them.
Learning through dance
In Swaroopa Kendra, the school lessons are taught within two months while the rest of the time is utilized to help students develop their skills and improve their performance. This type of education has brought to fore several talents and students have passed scoring high marks. The alternate method of education has helped the children to be good artistes, singers, actors, orators, writers who are brimming with confidence.
What does Gopadkar have to say about education….
Swa-Roopa means education based on voice and feelings. Lessons are taught here through different postures of dancing. If science is taught in one dance form, maths is taught in another and in this way every subject is taught through dance and painting.
Describing a persons character through a drawing
Our education system is like a Bonsai plant : Our school education is like a Bonsai plant. Bonsai is a plant which can be planted in a small pot but can reap the benefit of a tree. A plant which can grow into a huge tree and bear fruit is planted in a small pot without much light and water and its roots are cut short every year. In a matter of a few years it gives a few berries. Our present education system too is similar to a Bonsai plant. Children are imparted education for 15 years and the knowledge they gain is just like the bonsai planted in a small pot. Instead the plant should be planted in an open land so that it yields thousands of berries. Swaroopa aims at allowing the children to learn and play in a free atmosphere.
Student who scored 2 per cent secures 48 per cent : He was student of a college in Mangalore who scored just two per cent in all subjects. He had no hopes of passing. But, with just 20 days of training at Swaroopa he could score 48 per cent arks in SSLC. Of late there is a practice of sending to Swaroopa those students who their parents feel, can never pass in SSLC exams, says Gopadkar.
At Swaroopa students are taught the syllabus within two months while the rest of the time is utilized to educate them on how to face life. Students are sent as assistants with those undertaking plumbing, electrician and computer hardware works. This will help them gain experience along with education, feels Gopadkar.
| Extraordinary feat of ordinary students Gopadkar who had trained 24 ordinary students for just two months had made them capable enough to take part in the Limca Records contest. Each student was shown the names of thousands of things as well as the number given to each item, for just two minutes. The students of Gopadkar could repeat the names of the things as well as their numbers without erring. However, this feat is yet to enter into the Limca Book of records owing to some hurdles. Noteworthy is the fact that almost all these students had scored less than 40 per cent marks in exams in their schools. |
He has also been conducting awareness jathas in various districts, along with his SSLC students. He takes the students with him when the exams are just a few days away, Still, these students have passed in SSLC with good marks. Thousands of students and parents take part in these jathas, he adds.
Education should not be a punishment to students. It should build in them a confidence to face life boldly and emerge successful. Let centres like Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra be a model to our education system.
