'Learning to do' in the light of Swami Vivekananda

"Learning the Treasure Within"(1996) or popularly known Delors Commission Report was submitted to UNESCO in 1996 and according to the report one of the four pillars that ought to play pivotal role in the field of education in the 21st century is 'learning to do'. This pillar focuses putting knowledge to work, acquiring technical and professional training and developing skills for a variety of situations, implying shift from skill to competence, Dematerialization of work and the rise of the 'Service Sector'. It refers to an aptitude for teamwork and initiative, and a readiness to take risks. Learning to do as per Swami Vivekananda, that our knowledge is based upon experience. So we may read books, hear lectures, and talk miles, but experience is our teacher, the one eye-opener. It is best as it is. We learn through smiles and tears. He also said that all the wealth of the world cannot help one little Indian village if the people are not taught to help themselves. The main duty is to educate the people, so that they may learn to be self-reliant, frugal, and thus save themselves from future famine. According to Swamiji, we need technical education and all else that may develop industries so that men instead of seeking for service, may earn enough to provide for themselves, and also save something against a rainy day. He also stressed the necessity of the spread of technical education. The main aim of this paper is to look at the above mentioned pillar in the light of Swami Vivekananda's ideas.