When it comes to education, children should have the final say on what they need to study, and, therefore, parents' pressure on children is an unhealthy practice.


• How far do you agree or disagree with this view?

Who should have the last say when it comes to education; parents or children? I am of the opinion that children should be given that privilege. It doesn’t mean parents are not party to it. They need to be healthy facilitators.

Right education is what makes a child become what actually he or she is. This education is better only when the child decides what he or she likes to study. On the other hand, if parents impose decisions on children, there may be compliance and results, but the child will never be successful. For example, every child is born with a talent or two, and children have hundreds of ways to be successful. Identifying one’s way is to be done by children themselves. In this decision-making process, undue parental pressure is nothing but unhealthy.

However, this does not make parents devoid of any role. Rather they need to know that children love their parents more when they (children) are heard than when they are forced. This is more so when it comes to education which is a long process, needing wise decision making. Here comes the role of parents. They may here work as flexible advisors or facilitators. For example, an informed parent can keep his or child informed of the possibilities of a particular stream of education. This may help a child to see whether he or she has a taste for such a stream. So imposing something is unfair and unhealthy.

In short, when it comes to education, parents have to know that, at the end of the day, what makes the biggest difference is the interest of the child not the expectations of the parents. So let children hold the key to their success.

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