EDITORIAL
Thinking Outside the Box - Where did we go wrong ?
Innovation begins where people start thinking outside the box . They strive to teach Engineering Students to think innovatively , without being deprived in a pre-defined frame . However , too many people still see engineers as single-dimensional quantities constrained within a box . For some reason , we are in a phase that lacks innovative thinking . What could possibly be the reason behind this ? In my point of view , I believe the roots of this problem run back to the preschool and elementary education systems . Even though this might not be the sole reason , I strongly believe that the change should begin there . It is commonly known that the education systems of Singapore in Asia and Finland in Europe yield the best in shaping the future of a nation . Why are they successful ? Singapore gives a more flexible and diverse education to their young , to develop the skills , character and values that will enable them to continue to do well in the future while Finland provides the same with a high quality early childhood education for developing the cooperation and communication skills necessary to prepare young children for lifelong education . Finland has vastly improved in reading , math and science literacy over the past decade . The education system which was implemented there around 40 years ago has lead to achieving this and has been proved from the results of the PISA ( Programme for International Student Assessment ) test of OCDC ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ). In contrast to these education systems , the Sri Lankan education system is exam oriented including three highly competitive major examinations ; Grade 5 scholarship , Ordinary Level Examination and Advanced Level Examination . The students are spoon fed from the beginning and trained to sit for these exams in order to enter the university . Though the present school curriculum is designed to develop the knowledge , attitudes , skills and innovative thinking of a child , the prevailing exam-oriented education system ( mostly written and knowledge based ) and the competitiveness constraint them within ‘ the box ’ and hinder the child ’ s imaginations and innovative power . This exam system has driven the mentality of the parents as well as the students towards “ memorising ” rather than learning , that only targets getting through the “ exams ”. Attending tuition , too curtails the time that a child has to engage in extracurricular activities which impede their soft skills whereupon makes a child think out of the box . It is at the tender age that a child has their own imaginations which ultimately lead to creating marvels . They should be allowed to play , engage in practical activities , interact with the environment and learn new things by themselves . It is obvious that around 90 % of the child ’ s personality is built up from birth to 5 years . So , it is significant to provide a sound preschool education which develops the innovativeness and creativity . Nobody should be “ taught ” to “ think ” in a pre-defined thinking pattern . They must learn to “ think ” on their own . This is proven in Finland where the children spend far more time playing outside , even in the depths of winter . Homework is minimal . Also , there are no mandated standardised tests , apart from one exam at the end of students ’ senior year in high school , no rankings , no comparisons or competition between students , schools or regions . Teachers in Finland spend fewer hours at school each day and spend less time in classrooms . So , it ’ s time for us to have a “ change ” in the system which will take a huge amount of strength to initialize , though the inertia to change had framed all of us in one big box . The output of an education system should not be a machine willing to accept commands and act accordingly , but a fresh mind , a mind whose creativity is not lost , but enhanced . We all are born creative . Let ’ s not allow the existing education systems to kill the innovator inside each one of us , but unleash our thoughts freely . Step out to see what we have been missing all this time , caught in a huge opaque frame . It ’ s time for us to set our refined - innovative minds free . This is the juncture that our nation needs more brilliant , innovative and creative young minds than ever . Let ’ s change ! It ’ s high time !
Thilanka Pathum Weerasekara
Editor
Senior Treasurer Dr . Manjula Sandirigama
President Akila Ekanayake
Vice Presidents Wasundara Jayawardana Kaushal Amarasinghe
Secretary Chanaka Hettige
Editor Thilanka Weerasekara
Junior Treasurer Kanishka Randunu
Committee Members Prasanna Rodrigo Nilanga Thelasingha Yasitha Harshanath Tharindu Danajaya Kavindu Perera
Designers Thilanka Weerasekara
Photographers Sameera Abeysuriya Maneesh Wickramasuriya Prasanna Rodrigo Kalindu Madushan Charana Udugama Pasindu Perera Yasitha Harshanath Tharindu Dananjaya Yasitha Rajapaksha Keminda Perera Kavindu Perera Kavin Ranawella Kasun Thennakoon Kaushal Amarasignhe Kanishka Randunu Sandakelum Bandara Namila Bandara Shyaman Madhawa Mahendra Bandara Narada Ranganath Shashintha Maduraj Vishva Navod
ENGINEERING STUDENTS ’ PUBLICATION SOCIETY , Faculty of Engineering , University of Peradeniya , Sri Lanka .
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