The issue of children being hot housed into academic excellence, as the sole device they require to excel in life, flies in the face of the inalterable truth that life is not just about knowing but also about living, according to a local newspaper.
"Beyond the ABCs, a child needs to acquire life skills and most pedagogic models do not place much emphasis on integrating the latter into their curricula. The survey conducted by Gulf News lays bare the need to do so. Across the spectrum, administrators, educators and parents agree that this integration is behind schedule," the English language newspaper The Gulf News said in an editorial comment.
According to the paper, whether it is knowing how to play an instrument, sign up for a community service, provide first-aid to someone or acquire personal budgeting skills, the many capabilities that life demands of every individual are not to be considered as optional lessons for children.
It noted that instead, educational institutions and policy makers should move towards the vision of providing all-round development for them at the earliest. After all, life begins when you are born, "so why should the teaching of life skills be pushed to later?" "The cliche that children will learn automatically when they grow up needs to be retired. The other one, about starting them young, needs to be immortalised," the Gulf News added.
Source: WAM