The development of children must be seen holistically
The children of today are the nation-builders of tomorrow -- as such, they are our most precious resource.
Nurturing the mental, physical, and spiritual growth of children, then, through the right kind of education should be one of our top-most priorities, along with protecting them from harm, or any kind of abuse.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recently emphasized the need to build a secure future for children, telling a cohort of young people at the Bangabandhu National Stadium: “You have to take the country forward and build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh,” adding “it was the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
For that to happen, not only is there a need for a change in our schools and in education policy, but also at home and various sectors of society.
Most importantly, we must fight to stamp out the scourge that is violence against children, and work to change a flawed social and legal system that protects offenders, molesters, and perpetrators of child sexual abuse.
When a child is abused or traumatized, his or her innocence is lost, and the emotional ramifications last forever, often standing in the way of healthy mental growth.
It is imperative, then, that we take proper care of, and listen to, the children who have been abused, and work towards healing their wounds, while shaming and punishing all abusers.
Revamping curricula, or doing away with exams, though worthy initiatives, are not enough -- the development of children must be seen holistically, and that requires a change in mindsets regarding children.
In other words, we must ensure that the primary care-givers of children -- the adults -- are also properly educated.
