The missile man who gave young Indians wings of fire and burning ambition

• APJ Abdul Kalam was a leader who contributed to the youth skilling and development initiatives.
  
• In 2010, the United Nations honoured Kalam for his contribution to science, education and politics. Since then, October 15 is observed as World Student’s Day.
  
• Four years ago, the Delhi government rolled out an education scheme Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Higher Education and Skill Education Guarantee Scheme — which aimed to extend education loans of upto ₹1 million to students.
  
• According to him, the students should acquire two certificates from their school education — the highschool passing certificate and a skill-based achievement certificate.

APJ Abdul Kalam wore many hats. Initially, the aerospace engineer was known as a missile man for his contribution to the development of ballistic missiles. But the scientist is better known for his views and work to develop the quality of education in India.

He was in fact one of the first to recognize the need for skill development initiatives. The man who made progress across space technology, aeronautics, metallurgy and more--loved to spend time with children.

One of his many heartwarming acts as a President is to cancel the traditional Iftar party and send the food to orphanages instead. He also designed lightweight prosthetics from space-age material which will help disabled children walk, and cycle too.

In 2010, the United Nations honoured the man popularly known ‘People’s President’ and turned his birthday, October 15 into World Student’s Day.

“When learning is purposeful creativity blossoms, when creativity blossoms, thinking emanates. When thinking emanates, knowledge is fully lit. When knowledge is lit, economy flourishes,” Dr Kalam had famously said.

Four years ago, the Delhi government also rolled out an education scheme called Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Higher Education and Skill Education Guarantee Scheme — which extends education loans of upto ₹1 million to students.

Nourish them with skill-based learning

Kalam believed in nourishing the country’s education system with skill-based learning. According to him, students should acquire two certificates — the highschool passing certificate and a skill-based achievement certificate.

He had said that the school curriculum should emphasise on special training programmes to enhance skills which help find a job, and understand industry culture.

"Teachers have to realize that they are the builders of the society. The society can be built only when the students are made proficient in their subjects. In addition, they have to provide a vision for life to students and also inculcate the fundamentals of values which he should practice in the years to come," he said.

He promoted inculcating inquiry, creativity, technology, entrepreneurial and moral leadership in students. “If we develop in all our students these five capacities, we will produce an ‘autonomous learner’ a self-directed, self controlled, lifelong learner, who will have the capacity to both respect authority and at the same time is capable of questioning authority, in an appropriate manner,” he said.