Question

Essay on population education programmer

Answer 1

Answer:

According to UNESCO, “Population Education is an educational programme which provides for a study of population situation of the family, the community, nation and world, with the purpose of developing in the students rational and responsible attitudes and behaviour towards that situation.”

The National Seminar on Population Education held in Bombay gives a comprehensive definition of population education. “It is essentially related to human resource development. It is not only concerned with population awareness but also with the developing values and attitudes which take care of the quality and quantity of population

The objectives of Population Education are

1. To enable the students to understand that family size is controlled.
2. That population limitation can facilitate the development of a higher quality of life in the nation.
3. That a small family size can contribute materially to the quality of living for the individual family

Problems:

1. Food Problem:

Due to tremendous increase in population, the food problem continues in-spite of the spectacular achievement of the green revolution. The quality of food consumed is also below nutritional level. The scientific and technological advancements are being neutralized by the increase in numbers.

2. Economical Problem:

There has been remarkable progress in both the industrial and agricultural sectors during the last five decades. But there is no increase in their per-capita consumptions. The increased facilities in various sectors of life do not keep pace with the needs of the growing population.

3. Younger Generation Problem:

The growing population is usually a problem relating to younger population. Almost half of the population of our country is less than 16 years of age. This young population requires a proportionately larger outlay for supporting the social services needed for it, like education, health, transport housing and other facilities. It is impossible for a developing country for providing all these amenities in requisite adequacy.

4. Environmental Problem:Increasing number cannot subsist only on agriculture. They migrate to urban areas, big cities and industrial centres. Such a situation is creating problems like water and air pollution, transportation, shortage of housing, over-crowding schools, growth of slums. Growing population defies all efforts in planning for development and the country remains as backward as ever.

5. Educational Problem:

There are also some educational problems and difficulties due to over population.

These are:

(a) Too many pupils at all levels.

(b) Poor building, furniture and equipment’s.

(c) Wastage and stagnation.

(d) Poor-staff.

(e) Unemployment

(f) Poor quality of education.

(g) Student indiscipline and other allied problems at various stages of education.

Hence, Population Education needs to be given top priority. The situation is so grim that something needs to be done quick at grassroots level. The younger generation needs to be informed. They need to be properly educated for leading a planned adult life. A country, where 50% of the population is below 18 years, marriage is almost universal, where literacy rate is just 30%, where the standard of living is low and unemployment has taken on dangerous proportions. Population Education seems to be most relevant.

B. Role of Education:

Education has a great motivational force to perform for controlling over population. Suitable educational measures need to adopted to promote desirable changes.

1. Community forums and voluntary organisations should discuss the drawbacks of large families and the merits of small families. 2. Children in the elementary stage should also be taught through their courses of study, the merits of small family and demerits of large family and should develop favourable attitude and appreciation for having a small family when they become adults.

3. Boys and girls at the secondary stage should be given the knowledge in a scientific way about the reproductive biology system and the sex-hygiene.

4. Parent-teacher associations can also take the responsibility of educating the families.

5. Schools should assume the responsibility of educating the community and the families and should collaborate with other agencies for the education of the masses for having small families.