Right to Learn

Need for Education for all

By Gargi Ghosh * updated on 11/12/2021

The importance of education for everyone can never be emphasized enough. It is the key to progress and development. It is the only weapon that can fight ignorance, and it is even more powerful than the atom bomb. It is the means by which man can conquer nature and remove poverty from his life. It alone can emancipate him from slavery and raise him to the level of a master.

Swami Vivekananda said: "If the poor cannot come to education, education must reach them at the plough, in the factory, everywhere."

Henry David Thoreau said: "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation"

Millions of children in India don’t go to school. Instead, they help their parents work in the fields or work as child labourers. Some are kept out of school because they are girls – because their families feel that educating a girl is not as important as educating a boy.

Millions of children also drop out of school before completing their education. This leaves them with little hope for the future and prevents India from improving its economy and reducing poverty.

Many people don’t have enough money to pay for their children’s education. Others view it as a luxury that they cannot afford. And some think that all the children in the family can learn whatever they need to know from other members of the family – like grandparents, cousins, or even older brothers and sisters.

In addition, many public schools require students to pay fees, which poor families cannot afford. So these students either do not attend school at all or they drop out if they do not receive any money from home.

These barriers are one reason that India has such high illiteracy rates. Many people cannot read or write even basic sentences in their own language, let alone English or another language. And most Indians do not understand how important education is to the future prosperity.

Over the last few decades, India has made great strides in improving access to quality education, increasing elementary school enrollment and reducing the number of out-of-school children. However certain challenges remain:- 

"An estimated 6.1 million children out of school in 2014 reduced from 13.46 million in 2006. Out of 100 students, 29 per cent of girls and boys drop out of school before completing the full cycle of elementary education, and often they are the most marginalised children." (Source: SRI-IMRB Surveys, 2009 and 2014)

"Around 50 per cent of adolescents do not complete secondary education, while approximately 20 million children not attending pre-school." (Source Rapid Survey of Children 2013-2014 MWCD)

"Half of primary school-going children – which constitutes nearly 50 million children – not achieving grade-appropriate learning levels." (Source: National Achievement Survey, NCERT 2017)

In addition to encouraging Increased enrolment into schools and improving retention rates, it is also important to improve the quality of education received. 

Education is the only path to success and prosperity. The global community must rally together and help those countries that are still struggling to provide their people with proper education. This is one of the most effective ways for us to prevent war, poverty, hunger and any other social ills in the world today. Education is everything.

Written by Gargi Ghosh

Gargi Ghosh (M.A, B.Ed) is the Headmistress of one of the branches of Shemrock and Shemford Group of Schools. A winner of awards for the categories of Women's Award-An Inspiring Woman (2019), Most Socially Active Principal (2020), Top Educators of India (2020), Top 100 Iconic Educators of India (2021). She has published her poems in several international anthologies and secured the 8th position in a Global Poetry Competition.  

The ABCs of Kindergarten: 

A Complete Guide for Parents

by Gargi Ghosh * Updated on 25/11/20

Children are born little sponges, soaking up everything around them. They're learning to walk and talk, but also how to navigate their relationships with others. They are beginning to form opinions about themselves, other people, and the world around them. Here are the ABCs of kindergarten so you can be fully prepared for what your child will experience in their first year of school.

What to Bring

One of the most important things to bring is your child's lunch. The lunches are provided by the school, but it's important to remember that the lunches are not your child's lunch. They are the school's lunch.

It's also important to bring a backup pair of shoes because the kids are required to wear socks or shoes with their uniforms. One other thing to bring is crayons and glue because some of the projects will require them.

If you want some other ideas on what to bring, check out this article.

What to Wear

What to wear? This is an area parents often struggle with. Kindergarteners are only at school for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. But their clothes should be comfortable, appropriate for the weather, and able to withstand the rough-and-tumble play.

Here are some tips for what to wear in Kindergarten:

- Jeans, corduroys, or other comfortable pants that can be rolled up or down

- Shirts that can be tucked in or out

- Shoes that can withstand playtime

- Comfortable socks

- Hats, scarves, and gloves in the winter

What to Expect

Kindergarten is a big year for kids. They are now in their first year of formal school, learning to read, write, and do the math. The curriculum is much more rigorous than in the early years. There are specific skills they need to learn and special rules they need to follow.

It’s important to remember that kindergarten, for many kids, is their first time away from mom or dad for more than a few hours. It’s the first time they'll be away from their friends for extended periods. It can be hard for them to adjust, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some things you can do to help your child adjust to kindergarten:

• Visit the school before the school year starts so they know what to expect

• Let them know about their new teacher and what they'll be doing in kindergarten

• Bring in special items to help them feel at home

• Bring in snacks for the first few days to keep them happy

ABCs of Kindergarten

A is for Accountability

You'll want to talk to your child about the importance of taking responsibility when it comes to things they do in school. They need to learn to take ownership when they make mistakes because self-accountability is an important part of the learning process.

You should also talk about responsibility in terms of how your child can be responsible for their health and safety. This may include talking about the importance of not talking to strangers and how to use safewords if they get lost.

B is for Bullying

Bullying is a major concern in the world today, and it's one of the most important topics to discuss with your kids. You should talk to your child about the seriousness of bullying and what they should do if they're being bullied.

B is also for Building Friendships

In kindergarten, your child will be meeting a whole new bunch of kids. To get along with these new friends, your child must understand that everyone is different and has something different to share. Encourage your child to get to know new friends on a deeper level and learn about their interests.

C is for "Care" Words

One of the most important lessons you can give to your child.

                        Written by Gargi Ghosh

Gargi Ghosh (M.A, B.Ed) is the Headmistress of one of the branches of Shemrock and Shemford Group of Schools. A winner of awards for the categories of Women's Award-An Inspiring Woman (2019), Most Socially Active Principal (2020), Top Educators of India (2020), Top 100 Iconic Educators (2021). She has published her poems in several international anthologies and secured the 8th position in a Global Poetry Competition.