Core competency 'SELF CONTROL' - Needed during Covid times.

Covid times has led us to rethink on the competencies we are teaching our children for the new era.  The beginning of the lockdown saw crowing and massive purchasing by people.  When we look at this from an educationist perspective, we need to reflect on what went wrong in our system for people to behave in an anxious manner.  The education system nor our 21st century skills have exposed such weakness in our society.  Redesign to build a new system to accept new situations with confidence is to be imbibed among the young.

'Time changes and we have to change with time'

World Economic forum has stipulated 16 skills under the heading of 'foundational literacies, Core competencies and Character qualities' for life long learning.  Among the 16, the only one missing and essential one I see during these times is that of 'SELF CONTROL'.  In a situation where going out could cause harm to self and family, one needs to understand the need of self control.  The beginning of lockdown in India saw hoarding of essentials from food to medicine by different sections of the society.  As lockdown is being pulled over, the string of purchases is heavy.  The key question being

• Are these essentially needed?

Knowing the difference between ambitious living and minimalist living is essential during  pandemic times.  It is become obvious that our education system has not imbibed the know-how of 'need' and 'want'.  It is most important that we learn this during such times.  Let's take the example of migrants, who were either walking or cycling to reach their places.  Think about what they had and why did they take up such a risky journey, it was their need for survival.  If we were considerate enough and could live with the minimum then they would not have had such mad rush out of their workplaces.  Villages are self sufficient but agriculture needs a lot of support and how are we supporting them.  As educated members we are to think on these levels.

What we eat is not important.  Do we get to eat is important.

The need to incorporate 'SELF CONTROL' into our curriculum and plan  transfer of responsibility to individuals is important. To do this there must be a link on essentials of life rather than ambitions of life.  Working out of interest is different from working to earn or become rich.  When interest takes over we are satisfied with bare minimum and when earning becomes the keynote we strive towards unhealthy competition, feeling that this would satisfy us internally. 

How can we train our students to have 'SELF CONTROL'?

Concepts of  sharing, caring, concern and empathy for others will build values of compassion and self satisfaction.  

'Where the mind goes, the heart and stomach follows'

Education system should work on mind of young rather than talk about theories and achievement.  When minds talk the feelings develop and this creates opportunities to develop qualities of compassion. Covid - 19 has not only been a challenge to the great minds in research but also a challenge to the education system.  This pandemic has given us new lesson which we otherwise would not have cared for.  It is now important to realise and act upon rather than discuss and discuss on the behaviour norms of our society.  Thinking about 'what to change from the lesson of our past' will give us a better preparedness for our future because this his is just a beginning.