Yesterday, the world observed International Students’ Day with the theme ‘Empowering students to be agents of change’. The day highlights the role of students in driving positive change. It is marked in commemoration of the 1939 suppression of students’ protests by the Nazis.
The day serves as a reminder of students’ activism and the role they can play in the state’s and country’s development. We cannot forget that students are drivers of change. Their minds function like sponges, absorbing knowledge with astonishing ease; their curiosity is infinite and their spirit indefatigable. They are idealistic, unburdened by cynicism and instinctively inclined towards doing good and taking charge.
In the past one year, the world has seen student movements, especially Gen Zs, ushering in new governments, such as in Bangladesh where the “anti-people’s government” was replaced. In many parts of the world, students have been the voice of the common man, highlighting the issues of the have-nots.
In Goa, students enjoy a 50% concession on bus fares. Half the students may not be aware that the concession was secured through a non-political agitation in the late 70s when the student community came together and stormed the Secretariat to demand a “half-ticket”. Then chief minister Shashikala Kakodkar and then chief secretary J C Almeida agreed to their demand. It was a historic victory for the student community. The socio-economic situation was not good, and many parents from rural areas found it difficult to pay for the conveyance of their college-going children. Presently, political parties have their students’ wings, but in the interest of students, they need to take up issues concerning the student community without mixing politics.
Students are called future leaders of the country and rightly so. The present generation is smart and knowledgeable. The older generation may find them different. However, today’s students have huge potential with their innovation and creativity. They can bring about social reforms and civic sense. This is a community that remains untapped.
For example, they can do much in the fields of social equity, environment, empowering women and persons with disabilities, garbage management, e-literacy and more. The government has several schemes and laws to protect the environment, keep the state clean, promote agriculture and support self-employment, etc. Students could be taught about water conservation, garbage management, inclusivity or any socially relevant issue. The message invariably travels home, reaching parents who are often the first to be exposed to new information. In urban, well-educated families, this may appear routine. But for a large section of the population that is not as educated, this child-to-home channel of awareness is not just useful – it is transformative. It can reshape thinking, correct long-held misconceptions and push families towards healthier, more responsible choices.
The government would do well to introduce structured, activity-based modules on core civic and environmental responsibilities across all schools, including those in rural and economically disadvantaged areas. Teacher training also has to go hand in hand. The government should create dedicated training sessions so teachers can guide students through these themes using age-appropriate tools and real-world examples. Scientific temperament, a rational approach to life, must be inculcated in the teachers too. Civic bodies must also realise that they must harness students’ energy. Involving them in the panchayats and municipalities can yield better solutions to pending issues.
The government needs to involve students in a bigger way to get their views and suggestions for a better tomorrow. Trust them and they will deliver.
