Most of the problems facing today’s youth are not restricted to any one ethnic or religious group, but affect young people generally.
Most discussions on youth have focused on issues such as drug abuse, crime, violence, sexuality and poverty and in addition to these, today’s youth are afflicted by new challenges.
The most significant problem faced by the youth today is an identity crisis in realizing the true personality and potential.
The youth nowadays also faces lack of self confidence and low self esteem in establishing themselves within peers and in the society.
Another dilemma faced by these youngsters is an ever confusion and ambiguity concerning moral issues surrounding their lifestyle.
The negative impact of the electronic media and competitiveness in education which is often considered as an uneven playing field where excellence is no guarantee also contributes to problems faced by youths.
While religion is core in engaging the youth through calling to the worship of God and fighting against disbelief as a form of backwardness and corruption, it remains a subjective approach for religious inclination has always been a personal matter in an individual’s life.
One may define the ideal youth as a balanced individual exhibiting a highly spiritual life informed by absolute moral values and whose behavior demonstrates qualities such as righteousness, honesty, humility and conscientiousness in everything he/she does.
Historically, the older generation has managed to transmit their beliefs, values, traditions, customs, worldviews and institutions to the younger members of their societies.
This was achieved largely because of the impact of agencies of socialization, such as the family, religion and the schools.
Today the impact of these institutions has been challenged and undermined by new forces, particularly the internet and the television.
The sad fact thou is that we might be witnessing an erosion of traditional systems and institutions.
As such the family and religion now have a minimal impact on the average youngster.
The values emphasized today include individualism, Godlessness, materialism, secularism and rationalism.
It is the youth who are encountering the most serious challenge to his/her faith under the impact of godless culture of modernity.
Best minds in our society are not socialized by religious institutions.
The emphasis is on competitiveness, academic success, career goals, income and social mobility
Little or no attention is given to preparing tomorrows leadership.
There is no emphasis is placed on critical thinking, problem solving.
We are preparing followers, imitators’ conformists, and not leaders, innovators or problem solvers.
The youth is being asked to give up certain family and social values that were an integral part of their identity, and adopt in its place a sense of self-alienation, and become a self-estranged imitator of everything “modern”.
In closing, let us recognize that we have a serious challenge on our hands which is to ensure that today’s children and tomorrow’s adults would experience a better world than we are living in today.
We should all work towards this objective and not wait for a crisis to occur and then react, let us be prepared.
The Malaysian Youth And The Challenges Faced. Retrieved on 6 April 2015 form http://www.malaysiaedition.net/malaysian-youth-challenges-faced/
Last edited: 15 April 2015
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