'Don't produce 10th passed illiterates'

Addressing the gathering during the seminar held at CODP Hall, in Mangalore on Thursday, District Institute for Education and Training (DIET) Principal Philomena Lobo said that there are about one lakh children who have not been brought in to the portals of the schools yet in the State.

“If we aim at just bringing the children to school without understanding their state of mind, then we are not doing justice to them. If they are made to attend the class forcefully, they will not be learning anything. Ultimately, after all the efforts we will be producing a bunch of ‘10th passed illiterates’ who will lack self confidence,” she said adding that she had seen several children who have been forced into the classrooms and the result is that these children cannot even write their own names.

“Let us not allow Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan lose its luster in this way. We have to get parents and the children into confidence and make learning fun and meaningful for children,” she said adding that NGOs working in the field of education have a great role to play.

The programme was inaugurated by ZP President K T Shailaja Bhat. She said that imparting quality education is a must because no child should live like a burden on the society. ZP CEO Dr K N Vijayprakash said that all officials, SDMCs, NGOs teachers and parents have to make RTE a success.Education activists Gangadhar Reddy, Renni D’Souza were also present.