Role of Politics in Schools and Colleges

Politics is both a study and skill as to how power is exercised, and by whom (and for whose benefit), through the administration of public power, to manage people's affairs. Politics is an integral part of the operation of public education. Politics in education is not just about the ways of the election of school board members or local school councils but it is an integral part of day-to-day life. Political activity is about negotiations over the allocation of scarce resources and about deciding who gets what. But all political activities are not the same. Political struggles in schools and colleges have different views and objectives.

The introduction of school councils and groups has led not only to a healthy student voice but it has also become a tool for shaping young people’s minds for voting in the future. Such councils can be a barrier to effective participation of the young people. Young people today are more informed and civic-minded than before and student organizations provide opportunities for many opinions and various political interests on campus. Students participate in a wide-ranging program including in forums, study groups and conferences. But where the young lack is the mindset and maturity to see the right perspective.

it is true that there are a lot of opportunities for people who want to take on leadership positions at the University and in other political organizations. Its elected members are representatives to the administration and the student community. And at times the only representatives. These are also responsible for sponsoring many of the programs and services which are nearest and dearest to the student's hearts like concerts, celebrations etc. But another aspect of Politics is that students get themselves involved in various outside campus political activities and spoil their results or careers. Students should keep them away from active participation in the active politics of their country to prevent their educational life getting spoiled. However, they should necessarily have awareness about the political development in their country.

The life of a student is a crucial stage of life in which students have to give more preference to their own education than, any other activities, their active involvement in the politics leads to damage of their own studies, which is more necessary for them. Once this stage of a student passes then it will not return and even if it does, things will not be the same. Today's students are tomorrows leaders of the country. So they should be aware of the country's political activities. Before taking active participation in the country's politics he/she should learn more about our great leaders and the contributions of each and every party for the development of the nation. Active participation is not advisable since it will affect their studies adversely. Simply put Students should keep themselves out of this dirty game. They should think of entering into politics only after completing his / her desired qualifications.

History of Politics in Educational Institutes of India

India has a lot of student leaders like Mr Jaiprakash Narayan and also Mr Laloo Yadav etc. During the 1960s and the '70s, Idealism prevailed in campus politics. Indian students rose together in 1974 to protest against the corruption and the connections between politicians and black marketeers, who hoarded essential goods and sold them at exorbitant prices. It was a major and widespread movement

However from 1977 onwards, after Indians voted in India's first non-Congress government, the quality of student politics began to decline. The success of student idealism led indirectly to its decline. Political parties were impressed by the students' successes and then they started promoting students caste politics, religious divisiveness and the commercialization of education to gain their selfish purposes. Beset with violence, intimidation, and corruption, campus politics became increasingly dangerous. Such politics is more prevalent in the poor states, like Uttar Pradesh especially Lucknow whereas the wealthier regions are not immune altogether.

Today in many campuses, it is common for student politicians to stay year after year, earning multiple degrees, so that they can continue to run for office. And it is also a haven for candidates with lengthy criminal records involved in illegal weapons and violence. Clashes between student groups and even murders are now a part of the political scene during election season. Rich national political parties are gaining a foothold in the colleges. To restore peace many regions have banned student elections

The reason why students are getting more and more involved in Politics is primarily that student elections are views as steppingstones to national politics, and ultimately a route to wealth and power. An outstanding example is Atal Behari Vajpayee, the former prime minister who got his first start in university campaigns. Another reason is the reduction of the minimum voting age for national elections from 21 to 18, during 1989. This age generally coincides with students entry into college. This aroused the interests of political parties as they are a vital source of votes. Politics has become a full-time profession in colleges and universities of Uttar Pradesh. It is a sad situation as these are the students who can really eradicate the politics based on the castes. The country has no dearth of nonsense politicians who create a lot of differences between the people in the name of religion, region, caste creed. It is the students' responsibility and educators to come forth and control the situation.

Advantages of Politics in Student's Life

• Young people make up a huge proportion of the voting population so it is important that they have sufficient knowledge about political issues.
• The political decisions directly affect the citizens of a country. Today we often see absurd issues being given priority by the politicians during the election campaign and students should know the basic priorities of government or the opposition as they have enormous potential to turn down any wrong political decision being taken.
• Politics makes students aware of their rights and the proper usage of their rights.
• Young people have less understanding of government or democratic processes, participation in Politics enlightens them about these.
• Abstinence from politics results in lack of knowledge at all about what’s current events and happening in his/her country. Students should be vigil about the all types of development in their country, including politics.
• If students are prepared to be engineers or doctors, they can be a good politician too and serve the country when it really needs him.
• When young people don't take part in polling it leads to Apathy which means a lower turn out at elections. This, in turn, can lead to misrepresentation at both national and local level. It also puts a dent in the whole notion of democracy: If people don’t vote then their voice will not be heard.
• The college education is improved through college debates and free speech. If such activities are forbidden it leads to young minds being conditioned by the management politics instead of developing their own thinking.
• Universities are nurseries for future politicians, and there is nothing wrong with them starting off at that level with the aim of joining mainstream politics.
• It is not advisable to ban politics altogether for students as it denies them the fundamental opportunity of becoming a good citizen to vote. It is anti-democratic to refuse a student a campus opportunity to talk politics, to read politics, to discuss politics in an association, to argue politics with his fellow students, subject, of course, to a peaceful atmosphere, disciplined behaviour and obedience to public health and morality.
• Politics is a social science and its study through organised movements can create a sound administration.
• The ignorance of politics among the masses of a country paves the way for the rise of tyranny and the fall of democracy.

Disadvantages of Politics in Student's Life

• Today's education is more about Influencing than being simply informative. Teachers have become the means of imparting government propaganda to students.
• Political discussions, political magazines, political association and political seminars inside the premises translates into lawlessness and disorder.
• Politics is a vice-like alcoholism or drug addiction and therefore should be banned or ostracised as a mischief or menace, pathologically spreading as a dangerous syndrome in our institutions of higher learning.
• Educational institutes have become advertisers for a certain brand of politics within the campus and influence students through meetings and campaigns.
• Certain hostile groups of students battling within the campus create chaos making the process of learning impossible. Peace, health and morality and other values which constitute discipline are disturbed.
• Student campaigns at the elite university in India's are financed by their national affiliates and they spend thousands which a complete waste of money and time and other resources. 
• Students' groups are blank in ideology and never address issues of national concern. These students have to ultimately deal with problems at the national level - but they are woefully unequipped to do so.
• Outside political parties also give tacit approval to their student affiliates to indulge in extortion. In return, the parties use their student wings during national and state elections, both for conventional canvassing and for more dubious purposes, like taking over polling booths to intimidate voters into choosing specific candidates.
• For various political parties, the college campus is a training ground for their actual political life. The platforms are virtually identical to those of their national counterparts. They rarely raise issues of direct concern to students, like housing shortages and the quality of cafeteria food. Instead, just like national candidates they often urge students to vote for them because of their caste or religion.