INAUGURATION
 

Chief Guest : Dr. N.V.C. Swamy, Director, IIT Madras

The inaugural ceremony of IV National Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes was held at Narada Gana Sabha, Mowbray's Road, Madras at 11.15 a.m. on Saturday, the 12th November, 1994. The function started with a colourful welcome given to Dr. N.V.C. Swamy, Chief Guest and Prof. B.P. Khandelwal, CBSE with a traditional nadaswaram music and Poorna Kumba, amidst veda chanting by the students of P.S. Sr. Sec. School, Mylapore, Madras. The Chief Guest on arrival was given a Guard of Honour by the N.C.C. Students of PSBB Sr. Sec. School, K.K. Nagar, Madras while the Band of St. John's International School, Poonamalle was in attendance.

The invocation was followed by a melodious welcome song and a spirited Vande Mataram by the School Students.

Shri G. Balasubramanian, Joint Secretary, CBSE, Regional Office, Madras welcome the dignitaries. Recalling the success of the earlier Conferences of Sahodaya Complexes held at Meerut, Ernakulam and Jaipur, he described the timing of this Conference as very critical, as the whole educational scenario is filled with challenges from the world of information technology. He thanked the Hon'ble Union Minister of Human Resources Development, Shri Arjun Singhji, who had graciously sent his speech as he could not inaugurate the Conference due to unavoidable reasons. He profusely thanked the chairman Prof. B.P. Khandelwal for the wonderful opportunities given to the Principals who have assembled in large number to deliberate on issues of vital importance.

Shri H.R. Sharma, Director (Academic), CBSE Outlined the theme of the Conference. Narrating the various types of turbulance and tension present in the society, he called for meticulous academic planning for the Secondary Sector for the next decade. Emphasising the need for greater flexibility in curricular transaction, he suggested that the thrust of the reforms in Education should aim at the total development of the personality of the students. The theme of the Conference (school Management-Emerging Challenges), he said, was befitting to the present educational scenario in the country. He elaborated on various topics identified by the Board for this national meet, which he said, would generate further deliberations in academic circles.

Prof. B.P. Khandelwal, Chairman, CBSE, lighted the Kuthu Vilakku highlighting the inauguration of the Conference. Dr. K.D. Sharma, Controller of Examinations, CBSE read the message of the Hon'ble Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Shri Arjun Singhji.

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Prof. B.P. Khandelwal, Chairman, CBSE called for reassessment of the goals of education in the present context, Redesigning the curriculum to provide an education that is relevant and meaningful to life was important, he said. The role of education, he said, was to bring harmony between man and nature. To achieve this end, there was a definite need to update knowledge and to promote the skills of self- learning. An integrated approach to education imbibing social and moral values was absolutely essential. Though health, environment, Science and Technology must remain integrated in the curriculum adequate emphasis should be laid on building up strong moral and ethical values. These curriculum changes according to Prof. Khandelwal, should be carried out in phases so that the existing curricula are not disturbed. Emphasising the role of education as a total pursuance of human excellence, he called for adequate measures to protect the rich cultural heritage of this nation. In the context of liberalised economy, this country has now to face new revised challenges, newer competition, open markets where the emphasis will shift towards quality of production and successful managerial skills. The revised curriculum should take care of these requisites to enable the child to meet the emerging challenges.

Dr. N.V.C. Swamy, Director, IIT Madras narrating several incidents stated that education had four dimensions and the most important dimension which was often neglected was the spiritual dimension. While knowledge was very essential in the context of scientific and technological advancement, he said that excessive and wasteful knowledge should be curbed. The education should itself hold the child to build up a confidence and growing into a self depending individual rather than a merely well informed individual. Providing a strong -moral and ethical base at the formative stages was very essential as it would alone help man to remain balanced throughout his life. Comparing the social structure of the western countries with the Indian scenario-, Prof. Swamy remarked that the Indian heritage was built on a very strong cultural, social and spiritual base and we should not promote mediocracies. Promotion of human values should be given adequate importance in the curriculum which alone would provide for respecting individual who would in turn be able to respect the society and the nation which contributed to his making. There is a need to establish a personal rapport between the students and the teachers to build a sense of mutual confidence. It was essential according to Prof. Swamy that the teachers should be able to view other students in the classroom as different psychological entity and should be able to meet the individual requirements of the child with sincere efforts.

Describing the family system of India as a well organised social structure for promoting basic human values, he said that every country contributed to the making of different types of individuals like Greece-Thinkers, Roman Empire-Military experts, Britain-Traders, America-Scientists. Prof. N.V.C Swamy concluded by

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seeking an involvement of all concerned to think consciously and collectively about the type of children in future so that the future generation remembers them with respect and devotion.

Mr. V. Venkatachalam, President, A.P.S.C. and Principal, Hindu Sr. Sec. School, Indira Nagar, Madras thanked the dignitaries and participants who responded in large numbers to make the Conference a success.