Resolutions in New Year 2022!: Dr. Shahid Amin Trali Assistant Professor School of Management, ITM University

A tendency has developed in some students to be casual in their actions. There are students who do everything including travelling, partying and visiting their relatives, friends, picnic spots etc. but they are showing resistance to offline classes and in re-joining educational institutions. There are now strong evidences where employers are raising question marks on the degrees that were awarded during the peak of coronavirus pandemic.

The year 2020 was a terrible one and the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic made everyone suffer badly around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic had created the largest disruption of education systems in history, affecting billions of learners. In the year 2021, humans and organizations have tried to give their best efforts to counter the damage done by the pandemic. Educational institutions always have a great responsibility to contribute and they have truly justified with their active contributions in controlling the pandemic. It’s through a great vision, efforts and hard work by different stakeholders in the education sector that have made the impossible works turned into some fruitful and possible actions. The crisis was greatly used to stimulate innovation within the education sector. We have seen emergence of novel approaches in support of an ideal education system. The serious efforts were made in a short time to respond to the shocks to education systems and it gives us learning that really changes are possible. We should never waste the opportunities to explore new ways and systems for the progress in teaching and learning.

The last two years will be greatly remembered for bringing courage, valor, commitment, and unity in this world.  Most of us now have also learnt to live and progress with the new norms of life but there is a need to do more and contribute towards the true objectives of an ideal education system. There must be greater efforts in fighting deadly diseases and the fight against the Omicron Virus must be the new challenge accepted.

A tendency has developed in some students to be casual in their actions. There are students who do everything including travelling, partying and visiting their relatives, friends, picnic spots etc. but they are showing resistance to offline classes and in re-joining educational institutions. It looks like the virus is visible only in the educational institutions for such students. There are now strong evidences where employers are raising question marks on the degrees that were awarded during the peak of coronavirus pandemic. Students must do everything to prove such employers wrong. They must understand their responsibilities as a true citizen of this country and develop themselves better.

Students should build on their career plans right away. It could change with time. But it is better to have a different plan than no plan at all. Making a career plan will help you to travel towards your academics easier.  If students make a plan, it is important to stick to it. If they don’t value their plans, who else will? So students have to be on time in their goals. Students must devote time in learning new skills and must not underestimate the value of extra-curricular activities.

Educational institutions supported by teachers must continue their efforts to explore ways to empower students to think like artists, designers and change agents in the society.  Students must be taught to walk with people to develop a sense of belongingness in them towards the society. As educators we have the privilege to impact many families and it must be done in a positive, supportive, and equitable way. We must prepare now to return to our learning communities in this year 2022 with a hope that both students and teachers find happiness in togetherness.

We must not forget that good education is not only a fundamental human right. It is an enabling right with direct impact on the realization of all other human rights. It is a global common good and a primary driver of progress across all 17 sustainable development goals as bedrock of just, equal, inclusive peaceful societies. The education must always be a high priority sector and needs serious attention by the authorities to take the country forward.