Judging by the results of a recent survey of school children across the country, India’s future looks bleak - a high proportion of children and teens show clear signs of gender biases as well as cultural and religious intolerance. A total of 23,000 students from 4th, 6th and 8th grade participated in the study, which focused on attitudes and values. The results were dismaying.- Gender inequality
Around 40-43% of the students thought that education for a girl is not as important as her responsibility towards her family. If a choice has to be made between educating a boy or a girl, the former is a clear preference. Some felt that in the long run, educating a girl was a waste of resources. Around 15% of 8th graders believed that girls were more likely to be burdensome to their parents. However, 35% of 4th graders and 47% of 8th graders felt that both boys and girls are equally capable, but 15-20% of the students in these grades believe that abilities are determined by gender.
The results point to a deep-rooted bias against the girl child, even among students from educated families and those belonging to higher socio-economic strata.
- Immigrants
Nearly 60% of the students were unwilling to accept immigrants from other states, as they felt that ‘outsiders’ take away jobs from locals and are a source of communal disagreements. Only 29% believe that Indians can live and work freely in any state.
Although nearly half of the students surveyed believed that people come closer to each other due to mutual respect and understanding, the other half had preconceived beliefs about people from other religions, and thought that religious differences matter and need to be defended through violence, if necessary.
- Lack of empathy for the differently-abled
A large majority of the students (70-80%) think of differently-abled people as burdensome, unhappy or not good in studies. However, older students fare slightly better, with 21% in 4th grade and 29% in 8th grade being more willing to accept ‘special’ students.
Around 60% of the students are not sensitive about HIV-affected people and lack information about HIV. This could be because awareness programs are not effectively reaching children, according to the experts.
Again, it is educators –parents and teachers- who hold the key to a change in the way the nation’s young regard and treat girls and minorities. Without the understanding and subsequent instilling of different, more just values, age-old discriminatory attitudes are bound to continue.
Around 40-43% of the students thought that education for a girl is not as important as her responsibility towards her family. If a choice has to be made between educating a boy or a girl, the former is a clear preference. Some felt that in the long run, educating a girl was a waste of resources. Around 15% of 8th graders believed that girls were more likely to be burdensome to their parents. However, 35% of 4th graders and 47% of 8th graders felt that both boys and girls are equally capable, but 15-20% of the students in these grades believe that abilities are determined by gender.
The results point to a deep-rooted bias against the girl child, even among students from educated families and those belonging to higher socio-economic strata.
- Immigrants
Nearly 60% of the students were unwilling to accept immigrants from other states, as they felt that ‘outsiders’ take away jobs from locals and are a source of communal disagreements. Only 29% believe that Indians can live and work freely in any state.
Although nearly half of the students surveyed believed that people come closer to each other due to mutual respect and understanding, the other half had preconceived beliefs about people from other religions, and thought that religious differences matter and need to be defended through violence, if necessary.
- Lack of empathy for the differently-abled
A large majority of the students (70-80%) think of differently-abled people as burdensome, unhappy or not good in studies. However, older students fare slightly better, with 21% in 4th grade and 29% in 8th grade being more willing to accept ‘special’ students.
Around 60% of the students are not sensitive about HIV-affected people and lack information about HIV. This could be because awareness programs are not effectively reaching children, according to the experts.
Again, it is educators –parents and teachers- who hold the key to a change in the way the nation’s young regard and treat girls and minorities. Without the understanding and subsequent instilling of different, more just values, age-old discriminatory attitudes are bound to continue.
Source: Pune Mirror