What exactly is wrong with our students?

TOO many children now have everything given to them on a silver platter. They grow up thinking that everything can be solved with the click of a button. I look at present-day students who spend so much time attending tuition, a luxury which during my time was unheard of. We had to study on our own, yet we had so much time to do other things; to indulge in sporting activities and also help out with household chores.

Students nowadays stay away from sporting activities, saying that it clashes with their time for tuition. Is there sense in what they say? After all, we exercise to stay healthy and to have active minds. They prefer to while away their time in shopping complexes rather than engage in wholesome competitive sports.

We've not been able to produce sportsmen and sportswomen of international calibre with the exception of Nicole David (squash). Parents push their children into joining various classes and in doing so, stress themselves too. Many parents work hard on their children's school projects expecting them to earn high grades. Then they compete again to see if their children can make it to the best colleges. If the children can't do it on their own - from filling out a simple application form to completing, perhaps a college assignment or project - Mum and Dad will again be there to complete the job or "make it happen".

When I recall my days in school, everything was in order. Students lined up to enter class before lessons started and again after recess. They showed respect for property and teachers. Vandalism was unheard of. Students would stop to greet teachers and offer help should they see them carrying books. Witnessing a student going out of his way to help a teacher or even wishing them is a rarity these days. Where have we gone wrong? Was it not long ago that someone said the introduction of Moral Studies in schools would instill some good values in our students.

Many teens and young adults, although adept at handling electronic gadgets are unable to handle power tools, set up laboratory apparatus, manage their finances or budget. Yet, academics and Education Ministry officials claim that education has been democratised to make total persons of our students. What exactly is wrong with our students? Are they really moving forward and getting a total education or are they degenerating?

This article was first published in The Star on June 29, 2008.