Topic: Case Study – Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
7. You are posted as a District Education Officer (DEO) in a Maoist affected district. You have been specifically given the responsibility to work on the literacy mission. After reading the education reports and doing field visits, you find that the number of out of school children has increased drastically and the motivation among students and teachers is also low. While certain basic infrastructure is already in place, the major hurdle in attracting students to these schools include the attitude of inhabitants towards education and the security risks involved in sending children to schools. Given the situation, answer the following questions: (250 words)
(a) Analyse the reasons behind such an attitude.
(b) As a DEO, what are the steps that you would take in order to increase the school attendance and change the prevalent attitude of inhabitants towards education?.
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications.
Why the question:
The case study is based on the theme of “Attitude and its importance”.
Key Demand of the question:
One must identify the key ethical issues in the case study and suggest solutions to address the same.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief background of the case in question.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Brief case analysis in the introduction including stakeholders as well as issues faced in education. The given case presents a dilemma of development in violence affected areas. For example – education in such areas are not just dependent on the availability of whole infrastructure and affordability and distance of school from home. Ensuring safety is equally important. Further, this is a case where the output, in form of infrastructure is already there, but the outcome in form of education is missing.
- Analyse the reasons for such an attitude.
- Discuss the steps that should be taken by the DEO. Suggest effective measures that can resolve the issue both shot term and long term.
Conclusion:
These measures when dovetailed with good governance and efficient utilization of funds will ensure attitudinal and behavioral shift towards education.
