Electronic Media and Education
By Nighat Shaheen
While watching movie THREE IDIOTS, a thought struck in my mind that what if Pakistan come up with movies and aid institutes to grab the ideas to revolt our outdated education system. There are number of movies being produced with theme of education by our neighboring country which have been an ultimate hit on big screens. This is era to bring change in society by changing thought process of people and media is one of the most exclusive mean to make people think differently and effectively off course.
Media may refer to communication and communication involves number of tools out of which electronic media has emerged and proved to be most effective one till date. This tool is strong enough to alter not only your thought process but has the capacity of changing your lifestyle all together and how you behave and respond towards different stimuli.
In our present era, media has become a 4th pillar of state. It is being used to build nation to meet educational standards at international level. It has glorified the impact which equally benefitted both sides i.e. positive and negative. In short, media is a double edge weapon. Since World War I, it is being effectively and efficiently used to win the battles and helped in all tiers of human life. History is full of such examples where media has encountered foreign policies, themes and political decisions in time to create an impact and hence, changed the lost battles in victories.
On the other hand, our electronic media has not played much constructive role in bringing change in our education system. Unfortunately, we still lack media ethics and media values.
There are number of ways in which our media can take positive steps to put our education system on right track and can carry forward the ideas to make our institutes practically and competently functional.
Unfortunately, due to rating and scores, our media only focuses on politics, but the time has come where education must be given preference. Societies only adhere changes when focus is driven to the education sector.
Talk shows should call educationists, teachers and students on one platform to discuss the problems and give practical and implementable solutions. Moreover, as our movies are being produced and many are instant hit so instead of stolen and fake stories we must let people with unique and different stories having educational theme come up and present them in movies. This will bring not only problems specifically educational one in limelight, but make people aware of faults in our poor educational system.
On lighter mode, dramas and documentaries are the best tools to convey a strong message to the majority of viewers. The mode can highlight the significance of education and its role in a society along with the outcome of any well-informed society.
Programmes based on general knowledge and current affairs, debate shows in which schools to university level students can participate on different levels. Scholarships and study sponsorships can be introduced.
The government should and must play its role here. Only Educated mind can change the delipitated state of our failing education system and electronic media personnels can be great game changer if they can only get the idea.
There is time for everything and this is the right time to take the step in order to meet standards of education worldwide.
Let us not only hope but we need to make an effort to contribute in our society. This will be a great favor for coming generations to not to do for studies to foreign countries.
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