EUGENIO VIASSA MONTEIRO
Consolidate good work habits
Our world shows that advanced countries have organized, demanding, disciplined work habits, which, with time, are assumed by the entire population. The current remuneration criteria show the relationship between what each produces and its quality.
I remind Japan that it is a large country that, despite all the hardships and destruction suffered during the war, was able to quickly overcome the effects of the devastation, taking advantage of the facilities provided by the victorious country to proceed with increasing exports of its products and services.
The concept of total quality and zero defects was absorbed and generalized by Japan, with the support of American specialists. It did so well, starting by copying products and designs that were within reach and gradually introducing improvements, always concerned with making the product with better performance at lower prices.
Their efficient work and high productivity often raised suspicions if they were not dumping, selling at prices below the actual cost. But they worked very well, without errors or repeating defective parts.
Another country in the East of smaller size, is Singapore, which was formed in the 1960s as an emanation of Malaysia by wise minds capable of imposing themselves to create an internal work organization focused on taking advantage of all available resources to build wealth. When a country is impoverished, it has to work intelligently, more extended hours than usual, with well-designed products and services so that they are helpful and can be sold and exported.
Thanks to its intelligent efforts, Singapore projected the clever planning mind to various sectors, such as air transport, shipping, financial services, etc. It uses docking space and time efficiently and invests in activities of great social importance and returns, such as healthcare, well-designed financial investments and mainly compulsory and higher Education.
Fight corruption at all levels
In an exhibition I visited at the beginning of the 21st century in Singapore, I saw a parallel between the Indian economies in the year of Singapore's formation compared to 35 years later when per capita income in Singapore soared impressively at the level of the most developed countries.
A non-negotiable aspect for the rulers of the first hour of Singapore was the total elimination of corruption, starting at the highest levels of Governance, as the practical step towards its complete removal of the whole society.
Thinking about other Tigers, such as South Korea or Taiwan, we find the same traits that mark their dazzling growth, taking advantage of the facilities provided by the victors of World War II to increase the export of what they could produce well at competitive prices.
High role of Education
A note of wisdom that obsessed the minds of the early rulers of all the Asian Tigers was the firm determination to provide Education up to the highest possible levels for the entire young population—all in addition to the need to work well and not to make pacts with corruption.
A deep conviction that increasing schooling would make learning more accessible, differentiating from all other countries with their ability to innovate. For example, in Taiwan, compulsory Education was universal to children between the ages of 5 and 15. South Korea is one of the best-performing OECD countries in reading, mathematics and science. The country has one of the most educated workforces in the world among OECD countries and is known for its obsession with Education. This East Asian country consistently ranks among the best in Education worldwide.
Schooling is not just about going to daily school routinely but about taking advantage of teaching and learning. The same as children see their parents do, with complete dedication to their work, having in mind to give the best to their children; when children see this, they correspond at maximum in their studies.
In Singapore, over 80% of young people complete the 16 years of mandatory schooling. Primary Education lasts until the 6th grade; they are subject to an exam at the end of primary school.
All this has made Singapore a notable knowledge centre, with a stake in numerous healthcare and hospitality chains worldwide, supporting different projects, given their long and deep reflection and experience.
Excellent and dedicated teachers are instrumental. The entities in charge must have selected qualified people with adequate training to teach well, helping them think logically and correctly and simultaneously express their thoughts clearly and in an orderly manner. Suppose such well-prepared and dedicated teachers must always exist. They are even more in need of primary education, where the ability to think correctly and express clearly are essential and shape children's minds.
There can be easy excuses that there are no good teachers or they are in demand for other activities where they are better paid. There must be a constant exercise in adjusting compensations if we want highly qualified teaching agents at the most basic levels of Education.
High-quality teaching is essential for nurturing talents who are increasingly sought after.
India's ancient Universities, like Nalanda and Takshashila, were some of the earliest global learning centres. The ancient texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, have long been sources of wisdom for everybody. As India strives to claim its position as a global leader in knowledge, the role of teachers at the centre of this transformation becomes even more crucial.
"The time is ripe for the youth of India to embrace the teaching profession; by investing in it and addressing its challenges, India can build a strong foundation for a future where it leads in knowledge and wisdom.
"The role of teachers in this endeavour is indispensable, making them the true architects of India's bright future: Inspiring curiosity, encouraging critical thinking, and instilling values that shape the world's future leaders (Prof. Pankaj Arora, 4 Sept. 2024, in ET)".
Therefore, we must pay close attention to the preparation of teachers so that they may be good educators and transmit knowledge and examples to future students. If it is true that in any school, whether primary, secondary or higher Education, the teacher's dedication is irreplaceable, it is even more necessary at the most basic levels to help students think in an orderly and correct manner and to express themselves calmly and logically.
(The Author is Professor at AESE-Business School (Lisbon), at I.I.M. Rohtak (India), author of The Rise of India)