SSC CPO 2024 PYQ — Question 180

Read the following passage and answer the questions.

Academics has always been an essential part of human development. It prepares us to
survive in the outside world and establish an identity of our own. In India, from an early age we have been taught that education is limited to the boundaries of academics only; the idea of getting out into the field, for gaining practical experience is always considered a hoax. This has hindered students’ development.
In the 21st century, the pure academic type of education is slowly paving way for a whole new type. The shift in the whole education system is evident. People have now come to understand that education should focus on students’ overall development, rather than restricting him/her to the classroom.
Co-curricular activities that take place outside the classroom help in the growth of the child, in more than one way. Participating in such activities helps youngsters grow mentally, socially and individually. Intellectual development of a student takes place in the classroom, but for the aesthetic development such as team-building, character-building and physical growth, students must step out into the outside world.
Similarly, in colleges and institutions, there is a need for practical exposure so that the
students can experience the actual working of an industry. Most professional colleges
including B-schools, have started providing practical exposure to students through regular guest lectures, industrial visits, conferences and so on. Guest lectures are very important for all- round development of students as guest speakers talk about their real- life experiences and not what is there in the text books.
Through such events students are made to participate and coordinate different events
where in, they get to know how exactly things are managed. Classroom teaching provides the foundation, and co-curricular or extra-curricular activities provide practical exposure and opportunities to implement what students learn in the classroom. This helps in developing the overall personality of the students, inculcating various soft-skills in them, which otherwise are difficult to teach.