CHANDIGARH-March 16, 2012: A two-day National Seminar on, ‘Adolescents’ Dilemmas: A Challenge’ was organised by the Department of Education under its Special Assistance Programme (U.G.C). Professor R.C Sobti, Vice chancellor, Panjab University in the inaugural address emphasised the significance of continuous dialogue in solving adolescent dilemmas in particular and societal issues in general. More than the generation gap there is communication gap among members of families and members of society at large due to paucity of time in modern life-style and devaluation of cultural wisdom. In the individualistic society there are artificial division created for the developing child.
Prof. Sobti emphasised the need for recalling of the rich Indian culture that nurtures through experimental and oral traditions of learning. Dr. S.S. Dahiya, Director State Institute of Education, in the keynote address presented issues and pointers for solutions to adolescent dilemmas based on fact sheets of census figures, got survey reports and his insight into the gap between demand and supply of information, policy and implementation, benefit to students and mindless execution of CBSE guidelines. He touched upon Adolescent Education Programme, alcohol and drugs, anaemia role of ICT and urgent reforms Teacher Education.
The following academic sessions were chaired by Prof. B.S Ghuman, Prof. Asha Sethi, and Prof. Sween who highlighted the moral dilemma which youngsters are facing in today’s time. Alienation from the society, disconnection from mentors or teachers, parental aspiration and no clear direction from anywhere has created challenges and dilemmas for adolescents. Six eminent resource persons and more than thirty delegates from various colleges presented theme based papers.