Sri Lanka has a rich capacity: high literacy rate, natural resources, rich culture, ancient technologies and natural flora and fauna. Blending with the new knowledge gained through STEAM education could develop Sri Lanka and strengthen our position in Asia.
The nation consists of people. With their efforts, a nation can be developed and accomplish all it could ever want. Motivating Sri Lankans, especially youth, is the central theme of our ignited minds. I also know that their potential has gone untapped because of the political instability being subjugated and docile. Youth could be motivated and work hard to achieve their goals. Our people especially youth, have the ability to achieve the best in the world. When they leave the country, they have to work hard and genuinely improve their families.
Root cause of problems
“Who is our enemy?” “Our enemy is poverty” It is the root cause of our problems and should be the object of our fight, not our own (President APJ Abdul Kalam).
What is poverty in general?
(Goulden, C, & D’Arcy, C (2014). A definition of poverty. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation).
1. “Poverty is a condition where a person or a community lacks basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and has limited access to health care, education, and economic resources”
Poverty is often characterised by lack of resources to meet the basic needs, low living standards, and limited opportunities for economic and social mobility. Poverty often results in significant social and economic disparities between those who have access to resources and those who do not.
2. “Intellectual poverty”
Lack of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and education can significantly limit a person’s ability to understand and direct the complexities of their environment or society. Those experiencing intellectual poverty may have difficulty accessing educational opportunities or may be hindered by social and economic barriers that prevent them from gaining knowledge and skills. Intellectual poverty can be seen as a broader manifestation of poverty that encompasses both material and non-material deprivation.
3.“Ethical poverty”
Lack of ethical values, principles and moral standards enable persons or communities to live in dignity, respect and harmony with each other and the natural environment. It is the inability to recognse and respect the inherent worth dignity of all persons and to act in accordance with ethical standards, social norms and human rights.
Ethical poverty can manifest in various forms, such as corruption, injustice, discrimination, exploitation and environmental degradation.
How could poverty be eliminated?
Poverty in general could be overcome by education and Intellectual poverty could also be overcome by education, especially STEAM education where critical thinking is inculcated in STEAM education.
However, ethical poverty is inculcated through some parents and teachers. If parents and teachers are not ethical how could their children/students become ethical is the question? Initially, parents and teachers need to be ethical leading to a socio-economic stability of a country. Socio-economic stability would not take place without ethics.
What is STEAM education?
S Science
T Technology
E Engineering
A Arts: Social sciences, culture, and
literature gives added value to
human beings
M Mathematics
STEAM Education inculcates the following:
Collaboration
Communication
Research
Problem-solving
Critical thinking
Creativity
Expected qualities of a learned person are given below:
• Respect for individual opinion
• Patience and Tolerance
• Team spirit
• Deep analytical thinking
• Positive attitudes
• Skills, confidence and gathering of information for problem-solving
• Sustain cultural values produces a human being who can make a positive change in society.
Education is the best investment parents could give their children. If they are well educated and knowledgeable they could find employment anywhere in the world, especially with STEAM Education and AI. STEAM is Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Arts include Social Sciences, Culture and Literature that gives added value to a human being.
Introduced from childhood “Science culture especially STEAM education” – UNESCO is already in it, especially for girls. It is necessary to understand that STEAM education is not superior to other disciplines. Also, understand that STEAM education is a technology dependent way of life.
Sustainable use of STEAM Education to overcome poverty
• Leadership
• Commitment
• Vision for the future
Also technology compatible, committed people are essential.
A leader who understands the importance of STEAM education for poverty reduction and introducing it to rural schools is important. Artificial Intelligence and robotics play a major role in agriculture, engineering and medical sciences and in all other fields. The world is now digitalised having Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well. The younger generation is well aware of Information Technology and digitisation than our generation.
The University of Colombo started an Institute for Agro technology and Rural Science at Weligatta, Hambantota where biotechnology was introduced to the rural farming communities and the following were observed.
• Banana farmers using tissue-cultured plants achieved a ten-fold increased income, with science and technology knowledge.
• Purchasing power was increased and poverty was reduced.
• Also, the farming community was given the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Agro-tech degree from the University of Colombo through the same Institute. This program was entirely online using Moodle platform.
• Up to now more than 300 farmers are degree holders.
A degree means knowledge, skills and confidence given to a person. By giving knowledge to those who are directly involved in agriculture would enable them to use the technology immediately and also be involved in marketing having gained IT knowledge. This was conducted online where practical and field visits were onsite. In many countries the farming community are degree holders, especially in agriculture and marketing. They are called agribusinessmen with high purchasing power.
Pillars of success
Whenever there’s failure, remember there is a statement “Failures are the pillars of success”. Therefore, do not be disappointed. Keep going. Passion is the key. If you have a passion, then you will be successful in whatever field you are in. Also, success in life will not become complete without inculcating human values.
At this difficult period in our country, we need to be more tolerant and patience to have a peaceful family life while educating the children. We need to be more committed towards our work and maintain family life as well. Mothers have to play a major role in this aspect.
In our society, parents have a greater role to play for the next generation to remove the “Dependent mentality” from young minds. In many countries people have to work hard and earn. With STEAM education creators and entrepreneur youth could be well developed. Allow them to work hard, while taking reliable risks and earn, as there is a value to their earnings.
Instilling ethical, compassionate, sympathetic and positive attitude in the young generations are key factors for Sri Lanka thereby overcoming ethical poverty, leading to socio-economic stability.
It is important to have knowledgeable, smart, and ethical officers in key positions for socio-economic development of the country. Executing their duties and responsibilities in those positions with great integrity and gaining respect is needed. This is how the other countries develop. If not, a country cannot sustain socio-economic stability.
Development of a country means developing its majority of human resources economically and ethically. For this, we need ethical parents and teachers to set an example for the next generation. It is also our responsibility as parents and teachers to educate not only the subject matter but also to become respectable human beings in society.
Science and technology led Industries
Sri Lanka has many resources including human resources that could be utilised for socio-economic development. Industries developed through science and technology provide employment at all levels. When industries are developed, many sectors such as medicine, engineering, IT, legal, management and even the labour force will benefit. There is also the possibility to increase the export market, adding value to agriculture, cinnamon and tea. Having experience in other countries, this is how a country could develop. It is a win-win situation for the country.
Universities have started business cells/incubators that research could and would be developed into a technology. Working with company technology could be made into a product that the company requires. In many universities in Sri Lanka, there are business cells/incubators and could earn through such products. Also in international universities, incubators/business cells are operative for research to develop into a product.
At UNESCO, on our request, we were given a donation for STEAM education with Artificial Intelligence for rural schools considering its importance for the country. UNESCO considers education is extremely important for children, especially for girls.
Having worked with rural women for several decades, I strongly believe that when women are empowered their families would benefit more. Mothers would educate their children and give healthy nourishing food for the families.
Importance of empowering women with education, especially STEAM education is as follows:
• Better management of family
• Could look into education of children
• Nutrition of children
• Better financial management at home
• Empower with sustained culture
• Look into health aspects
• Increased purchasing power
I wish to highlight that nothing in life comes easy, you must work smart and do the best to achieve your goals in an ethical manner. This was my experience. While doing so, always be ethical and be an honourable citizen and we will be blessed. Also, remember there must be a balance in health, wealth and happiness.
The writer is a former Chair of Botany, Senior Professor in Plant Science Department, University of Colombo, former Ambassador to the French Republic and SL Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, former Chairperson, University Grants Commission, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Colombo and former Chairperson, National Science and Technology Commission.
