Graffiti used to be a powerful tool, in terms of communicating messages as well as keeping youngsters busy. Off the cuff it's difficult to recall research on the utility or efficiency of such messages but come election time, the City Corporation and the Election Commission will rise from hibernation to point out such messaging is illegal and that it's up to building owners to clean it up. Another instance where the law is blind, especially when apportioning damage. Unless the law has been otherwise amended, any sort of wall-poster, barring designated areas, are illegal. That no one gives a hoot about it is evident from the poster on poster slapped against lampposts, main-gates, garage doors and, of course, walls. This is more visible in the vicinity of educational institutions, especially the coaching centres that were once declared illegal. Of ire is that these messages range from 'To Lets' to coaching opportunities, and a lot else in between. Some harried school authorities have followed the 'if you can't beat them, join them' policy by causing famous quotations to be written on their boundary walls. That at least prevents postering in a strange sort of way.
The graffiti on educational institution walls are usually about some ism or the other and at the minimum, serve as a reminder that smaller student bodies, especially left-leaning ones, still exist. It was refreshing to note a small, hastily done wall writing that went 'education is not for sale". The words were painted on a wall lining Mirpur Road, as one travels from North to South. It was written in English, attributed to the Chatra Union and didn't stand out in the clutter. Traditionally, the more talented and thinking students club under the Union banner. That they have picked one of the most talked-about social issues is telling. Students have now joined the stifled chorus led by President Abdul Hamid, pleading for education not to be treated as a business. Alas, it's not just business but a real rum deal. Classified advertisements say there's a 'guarantee' in passing whatever exam the student is coached on. It's unthinkable that parents, let alone students don't question such 'guarantees'.
It's one matter to cough up more for having wards admitted to recognised institutions -even though there may be a quibble over 'how much is more'? It's quite another to have to shell out absurd sums for coaching centres. Any education system that falls so short as to force students towards such centres, is an abominable mess. More so, because they deprive children of the much needed breaks, personal space and time-denying them the essence of childhood. Quality education bases on the experience, knowledge and wisdom gleaned from every-day life and intelligent, constructive discourse. As we knew it, cramming was done and dusted. That this has been replaced by 'common' questions is a disgrace. Excellence in creative writing, such as essays, were driven by the format rather than the subject and required students to apply the grey cells. Input to these thoughts were picked up from humdrum life but as one acknowledges sooner than later, life is the best teacher.
Matters have reached the absurd level whereby social media lampoons are merciless. One of these portray a teacher suggesting that everything from uniforms to stationery be bought from the school. And when the perplexed parent asks about education, the answer is 'get that from somewhere else'. A sick joke but one that does resonate. Taunting as it is, there's a thinly veiled suggestion if one were to look a little carefully. The combination of brilliant minds could make up a wholesome whole to pass on nuggets before they're gone.
There will come a time when the thousands of certificate-wielding aspirants will find out that these mean very little. But if the input to the system degrades as radically, maybe it won't matter. In the mid-1970s there had been some discussion of limiting higher education to those really cut out for that, raising the importance of trade and vocational education thus allowing quality education to take roots. Quantity has outstripped quality some time ago. How better exemplified than in the same banal photograph of smiling students with the 'V' sign in all media; the same stale question about the root to success and a complete absence of really thought-provoking questions to these, ostensibly the brightest of our country.
