In my opinion, education shouldn't be all about writing your exams, scoring higher grades, and getting your certificate. It should also incorporate other important values such as learning to be selfless, getting involved with community service, contributing to the society in the process, learning how to live with other people peacefully, and knowing their world at large.
When I was growing up, I was taught the need to respect my elders, help others when necessary, take care of my surroundings, etc. I am sure these little teachings were part of what made me responsible to date. Some children don't get to learn most of these and so see it as a strange thing to do later in life. This is why I am of the opinion that community services are actually vital.
Now imagine mandating secondary school students to get involved with community service. Imagine making it compulsory for them to visit the orphanage homes, help the elderly, plant trees, and just participate in various types of community service.
For sure, they might not like it, but it will surely teach them great values. The students will end up learning teamwork, resilience, patience, and the rest just in the process of this initiative. Now this isn't what can be learned by writing an exam but a practical way of life.
However, I have a concern about the prompt description, which says, "Failure to do so could mean forfeiture of their graduation." Students could have a genuine reason for not getting involved; to some people, it could be financial constraints, so should such a student not graduate? unless the school or government would provide everything needed to make the project a reality, not only mandating themIt would be more effective to see that schools organize the community services in a way that they would give all students a fair chance rather than making it compulsory without providing the necessities.
The target at the end of the day should be to teach students how to be responsible rather than punishing them.
Even in my home, I am teaching my kids already this early that helping others is never weakness, taking responsibility is a good thing to do, sweeping the compound, tidying up the house, and stuff like that. This is how it starts gradually. I am also teaching them that it's not enough to get educated with a colorful certificate, but how they treat others in the society is a big plus.
It's important for these young ones to know that what they can give the back to their society is paramount.
Overall, I am in support of making service mandatory for secondary students as long as it will be more organized and fair enough, giving every student a chance to do so without punishment. At the end of the day, it will make sense to see educated people being responsible too in society.
*This post is in response to the #hive learners community prompt in the topic titled, Community Service
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