|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 6 January 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Have we really understood our youth? by Lionel Wijesiri In contemporary Sri Lankan society, the transition from childhood to adult status is delayed until well after individuals have attained biological maturity. This transition period, commonly called the adolescent or youth era, is currently perceived as extending from approximately late teens to late twenties. The adolescent era has been the subject of extensive interest and investigation by social scientists, public policymakers, law enforcement officials, the media, and the general public since the late 20th century. Today much of this attention reflects a generally negative perception of adolescents. They are viewed as major players in the multiple problems confronting our society, including substance abuse, crime and violence. Although these problems are often presented as causal explanations for the failure of some of our Nation's youth to become productive and successful members of adult society, they do not exist in a vacuum; substance abuse, crime and violence result from complex interactions between individuals and their physical and social environment. The reality is that the vast majority of our adolescents, including many of those who experience these problems at some time during adolescence, make a successful transition from childhood to adulthood. However, they do not accomplish this without assistance from families, societal institutions, communities and friends. These aspects of the environment provide adolescents with the guidance, structure, experiences and encouragement necessary to foster positive outcomes during adolescence and adulthood. Therefore, it may be the absence of support from families, societal institutions, communities, and friends-rather than any given problem behaviour-that explains the failure of some adolescents to achieve successful adulthood. Opinions The desired outcomes in adulthood presented in the conceptual Sri Lankan model reflect the successful adulthood that is generally held in our society. These include supporting oneself and one's family financially and positive and responsible family and social relationships: Treating family and community members with respect and contributing to the maintenance of cohesiveness in the family. On this issue, Neville Sigera - a mercantile director says that the Government is fully aware of the fact that our youths are faced with many challenges of which unemployment is the major one. He further says: "if there are not enough job opportunities for youths today in the country, it is as a result of several reasons, one of which is corruption. If the private sector is to provide more job opportunities for people, the Government should do everything possible to make sure that corrupt-free policies are put in place". "It is a known fact that poverty did not only came into existence as a result of the civil conflict. There has already been an economic slow-down since sixties." He adds: "If youths are to play a role in developing the economy and reducing poverty, three vital matters should be considered seriously: that we critically consider the link between education and unemployment - the relationship between youth and national development and the resources allocated for youth development programmes". "It will be good if youth issues are not addressed separately, but are included in all government issues. We should also strengthen the networking relationship between governmental and non-governmental agencies working on youth programmes". Mrs. Kamalini Nadarajah. - a social worker adds her contribution: "Over the past years youths have been misinformed and misguided. We must not forget that the youths are the nations' treasure. Youths in Sri Lanka constitute 40-50 per cent of country's population; they are full of potentials and can make significant contribution to national development. It will be wise for possible interventions that will help to empower youths in diverse ways. Possible interventions can be made in some areas like Educational Support Programs, Skills Training, Youth Health, Promotion of Recreation and Arts, Good Moral Values and Arts and more. To achieve better standards of empowerment a comprehensive approach is needed both at national and international levels". She again stressed the fact that adults need to come to the aid of the young people and help develop the middle level manpower in Sri Lanka. This will go a long way in making the right type of empowerment needed for a positive change, he added. Integration The frustration of our youth is quite understandable because their future should be full of hope, but what they see is nothing around them but the grayness of a present without jobs. In these circumstances, can we really be surprised by the statistics concerning criminal behaviour, drugs, and other social ills among our youth? The social integration of the young is achieved most directly through work. The politics of education and job training are therefore key strategies in our struggle against marginalization. To give an example, can we not propose the introduction of flexible educational programs for our youth, which will be able to adapt to new technologies as soon as they appear? At the same time, our youth must be able to make use of these tools, after having learned how to use them. Let us give them the means to achieve this end. Young people, in most cases - and this is almost a law of life itself - define themselves in opposition to their elders. The encounter of different generations may take two paths: Either that of conflict, producing only discord, or a constructive tension that is brought about through dialogue. The dialogue between generations facilitates the social integration of youth. Despite the fact that children and youth constitute the majority of our population, we still witness how their views and problems are overlooked by those who make the decisions. It is an inherent characteristic of current society that young people are absent from leading platforms and therefore they lack an appropriate framework for the expression of their needs. The participation of youth in processes of democracy and decision-making are influenced by many factors such as their skills, education level, and the political, social and cultural orientation of those in control and the actual strength of youth as a social force. Help Rather than simply being the passive receivers and objects of programmes of governments or non-governmental organisations, youth must be the advocates and defenders of their rights. We must think and act strategically on the immediate circumstances of young people and in such a way link them to the broader social and political issues. Voluntary youth organisations can help in many different ways to achieve these goals and can play a key role in facilitating youth development. They are important contributors to the social integration of youth and give young people the opportunity to participate in society. The social work of some of these groups has had a significant impact, helping to prevent marginalisation, enhance participation and instil a sense of responsibility and self-esteem. Youth organisations can assist in alleviating the shortcomings, which exist in education, healthcare systems and the social sector. They can mobilise resources by engaging youth in self-help projects and encouraging voluntary participation in constructive activities. The Presidential Commission on Youth appointed by the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa, who sought to find the root causes of the youth discontent, which had led to two internecine insurrections, identifies in its report (1990) these problems and suggests remedies. The report says: "Forty-five years of free education have resulted in near total literacy and significantly heightened expectations. Language policies of the past have alienated a whole people. Rampant consumerism and unrestrained ostentation of a small but highly visible section of society has lent itself to ever widening social differentials, disclosing a woeful lack of empathy on the part of the privileged few for the vast majority of society languishing in deprivation and want. The youth abhor the hypocrisy of the urban elite promoting Sinhala and Tamil education for the people while they ensure English-even foreign-education for their own sons and daughters. It is against this backdrop that rural youth find themselves so thoroughly disenchanted with the present order. They seem to have no one to turn to; not even someone to complain to. Rural politicians, they claim, join the urban elite once elected. Their lives are seen as a series of broken promises. The yawning chasm between the town and the country has denied them the privilege of reaching out towards self-advancement in a congenial and fulfilling environment". What the Commission revealed many years ago is, well and truly, applicable in today's context, too. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
