×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

‘Gender sensitivity should be part of curriculum’

Last Updated 16 December 2018, 17:08 IST

Health Enterprises Private Limited Chairman Dr H Sudharshan Ballal said development should be measured based on the living standards of the poorest section of the society and not of the society’s affluent.

While delivering the convocation address of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) on Friday, he stressed on the need to change the disparity between the “haves and have-nots”.

Asserting that he is sure that if Michelangelo, MF Hussain and Steve Jobs had to take MCQ’s to be judged for their proficiency, the world probably would not have had the Sistine Chapel, Apple phones, computers and other masterpieces available for the world to enjoy.

“In my opinion, we need to look at entrance test as an eligibility criterion and selection should be based on a non-biased interview for aptitude and skills. I do believe all of us in the field of education including distinguished educationists present here need to address this serious issue and bring in the changes,” he added.

Stating that along with taking pride in the development in the country including in the field of education, the country should be ashamed of the fact that this is happening only in isolation in islands of excellence and the vast majority of the population either do not have access to schools or the schools they attend are sub-standard ones.

“We are a land of contradictions and we represent the typical champagne glass distribution of wealth and other resources. We have the most expensive mansion in the world next to the largest slum in the world. We have the best of seven-star hospitals and a hundred kilometres away there are dilapidated PHC’s with children dying of diarrhoea and malnutrition. We are the land of Mahatma Gandhi, but we indulge in the most abhorrent crimes and cruelty on women,” he added.

Asserting that he is appalled at the behaviour of some sections of the society where there is intolerance, gender insensitivity, utter disregard for the rights of others, lack of values and lack of civic and ethical sense, Ballal reiterated that it is very important that these topics should be part of the curriculum in schools and colleges and not Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology alone.

“I am glad that the regulatory bodies are now looking at attitude, aptitude and communicable skills in the core curriculum of courses. We in the medical profession have conquered many a cancer successfully but the society has failed miserably in checking the cancer of corruption,” said Ballal.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 16 November 2018, 18:36 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT