Life Skills and Citizenship Education: Grade 9: Contemporary Changes

Hi everyone! We are back with an overview of the second lesson; Contemporary Changes. The points that have been briefed in this article will surely enable you to grab the key aspects of the lesson.

 

The dawn of the twenty first century marked a great upheaval in technology in the world. Technology includes skills, methodology and processes used by humans to make their tasks easier. Eventually, as humans began to learn and improve the vistas of creativity, technology too started to evolve, resulting in new inventions. As the population rose, people demanded improved technology in order to fulfill their complex needs. A series of new inventions backed by researches and explorations happened during the industrial revolution during the 18th century. Technological changes lead to the birth of new jobs, fashions, improved health care and medicine, changes in production, consumption, means of spending leisure and the desires of human beings. Technical changes make work easier, reduce wastage, save time, and improve productivity and efficiency while strengthening social connections.

 

On the other hand, these changes have brought out ill effects like environmental pollution owing to urbanization and mechanization, unhealthy life styles due to the consumption patterns that have resulted from the excessive use of artificial food, drugs, and alcohol etc., anti-social behaviors that decline the moral values and decline in physical and mental health.

 

However, technology should be used by instilling creativity which will lead to individual and social development. It is essential to use appropriate technology that will help to achieve sustainable development, reduce resource wastage, reduce pollution and benefit the economy. Thus, it is important to act suitably when the contemporary changes occur and people should be able to use technology only for the crucial necessities with limits.

 

The processes of Production, Distribution and Consumption are essential for the existence of an economy. The limited resources (raw materials) are converted to finished goods by utilizing labor and technology in production and these goods are provided to the consumer through distribution. Consumption takes place when the human needs are fulfilled by these goods and services.

 

 

Technology has created new trends in the job market where the demand for the jobs in the world is provided with appropriate supply. Today it has local and international sectors where competition is very high. It is quite significant to make one’s self aware of the current trends in the job market and prepare for those while completing the expected requirements like professional qualifications, language fluency, computer literacy, soft skills, handling new technical equipment and etc. Many jobs are available in the sectors of agriculture, industry and service. The demand for jobs too change owing to the complex human needs, more people receiving education and exposure , rise in labor force and replacement of labor by machines. New trends have opened several jobs such as data analysts, counsellors, software engineers, genetic engineers, architects, designers, event planners, horticulture technicians etc.

 

The complex needs of man and excessive competition in the society have led to the decline in social values and virtues in people. Co-existence and the promotion of well-being can help us to solve this social problem. Well-being is established when people live right or virtuously. It is needed for people to live as good, lawful citizens who fulfill their interests without hindering the rights of others, direct people to follow righteous paths of earning a living by working hard and to build a peaceful environment. Qualities of well-being are essential in creating a peaceful environment.

 

 

The failure to cultivate the above will lead to the decline in social values, environmental pollution, decline in well-being, excessive wastage, disturbed inter-personnel relationships, rise of misdeeds and failure to establish social security. Man cannot exist in the society alone and he needs the support from other individuals in the society to survive. Co-existence exists when people exercise mutual corporation while living together in the society and it is essential to build a united society, establish social security and peace, support those who are in need and build up equality. The following are the qualities of Co-existence.

 

 

Co-existence is essential to build peace and harmony, mutual relationships, facilitate individual and social development, enhance social security and reduce disputes and clashes among people.

 

Well-being and co-existence share a mutual bond as the inculcation of the relevant qualities together contribute towards individual and social development. We should refrain from the qualities that hinder the above concepts and contribute towards building a virtuous society that survives with mutual cooperation of people.

 

Co-operative movement was set up by Robert Owen in order to fulfill the basic needs of people and enhance social welfare. This aims to achieve its goal; equality by working collectively and mutual cooperation. This helps people to improve their living conditions. Several types of cooperative societies such as Multi-Purpose Co-operative Societies, Hospital Co-operative Societies, Transport Co-operative Societies, and School Cooperative Societies exist.

 

 

 

 

By Mekhala Egodawele

Photo Source: Internet