Indian education can stir never ending debates. But this, indeed, is a smart question. The education system is responsible for producing competent and intellectual talent in the country. We must remember that the purpose of education is not just to get a call centre job. It should be able to produce competent, intelligent, intellectual individuals who are also good people. The education standard is declining like anything and we all seem to be helpless. India was set free in 1947 but successive governments did little to change the education system. In fact, they only made it worse over the next few decades. Current pattern of Indian education system was developed in colonial times to generate babus (clerks) and civil servants. The most important feature in this was to teach them complete subordination, without any deviance. Wait there, doesn’t it sound like a perfect formula to kill creativity and innovation.
Sadly, the system has not changed much at root level ever since. The absence of an overall vision is the primary flaw of the education regime in India today. This has resulted in poor appreciation of the quality of education. Weakness related to the allocation of resources, design, and implementations are simply outputs of this missing vision. And poor learning outcomes, absentee teachers, not to mention high suicide rates among youth during exam times, are all outcomes of this inherent flaw. I would try to list few flaws with content within and beyond:
- The Course Content - Completely out-dated and forces students to study what they don't want. (I think students should be given options early on in life). There should be more focus on skill education - like communication skills, public speaking, entrepreneurship, computer programming etc.
- Rote Learning: People perceive rote learning as being educated which is clearly not true. The emphasis has never been on understanding, gaining the "real knowledge". If someone can mug it up and vomit it out in the examinations he is considered intelligent else of "no-use". Educations should be aimed at imparting knowledge.
- Lack of practical education - All the concentration is towards learning the theory without much concentration towards practical knowledge. When we know that at the end of the road practical knowledge matters the most.
- The “one exam” system: How can you judge the future of 15 lakh students in 6 hours? One can easily have a bad day, mess up a few pluses and minuses, and BOOM! you are thrown out of the competition. Earlier, at least you can do well in the next exam but not anymore. Next Exam now means NEXT YEAR.
- Promotes private tuitions: Private coaching institutions in India do not teach students how to do well as a citizen, be a successful professional, start a business or carry out research on a topic. They just prepare students for a board or entrance exam. It is ironic that students have to take up private tuitions despite attending schools for 7-8 hours every day. Students, who do manage to qualify in various competitive exams, lose interest in academics, experimentation and research right after they make it to the best schools.
- Parent-Teacher engagement: There is a lack of engagement of parents. They are not aware of their child reading and writing skills. Parents should be involved more in their child development.
- Rank obsession: Due to pressure of parents, school and society our schooling system has turned so much obsessed to ranks. If you cannot score high you will not be respected.
- No focus on skill development: Our education system focuses on theoretical knowledge as most of our exams are based on theories only and less on practical implementations and skill development.
- No flexibility in Lesson Plan: Students have no choice in their subjects as our Lesson plans and curriculums are so fixed that there cannot be any alteration for our special talented students.
- Reservations: Off late we have observed that almost all communities in India are it small or big need reservation. Shouldn't admissions be based entirely on merit and not by virtue of birth? There are so many communities in India (be it small or big), if reservation is given to each of them then no seats will be left for general category!
- Out-dated: India is still stuck with chalk and talk theory. Time has changed now, and it's high time to integrate technology with studies and make it more interesting. Technology can have a very good influence on the Indian education.
- Biased Teaching: Teacher's in India are highly biased. Chaploos students are ALWAYS given priority, be it marks, giving opportunities in competitions or for that matter anything! Teachers tend to demoralize those are not able to score marks just because he/she cannot memorize!!
- Our education system today encourages mediocrity – in students, in teachers, throughout the system. It is easy to survive as a mediocre student or a mediocre teacher in an educational system. Our education system rarely rewards what deserves highest academic accolades. Deviance is discouraged. Risk taking is mocked. Our testing and marking systems need to be built to recognize original contributions, in form of creativity, problem solving, valuable original research and innovation.
- We are receiving the education of letters and not of character. Education helps to evolve a matured person worthy to rule and to be ruled and to prove its worthiness globally India requires a highly effective education system.
There is a misconception forced on people that everyone has to follow the crowd and still manage to
stand out of it. All
in all, the current education system is paving way for more students, but
less learners - and this is
the
biggest flaw any education system could ever have! ‘The very purpose of 'education' is lost!’
Every coin has two sides. The bright side of Indian education
is the variation of subjects to which students are introduced at an early
stage. This exposure to variation helps children to learn about basic things of
life.
Here is a list of reforms that I would initiate:
- Focus more on practicals. Exams would consist of both theory and practicals, both equally important.
- Less time spent inside classrooms, more time spent in labs, outdoors, etc.
- Option of advanced courses for students who are interested in any academic field. Also, a choice of trials would also be available.
- More rigorous testing for teachers.
- Detailed textbooks.
- Standardized board all over India.
- Focus on research.
- Teach that no work is superior or inferior.
- Special courses on how to use your occupation for the development of mankind.
- No rankings in school tests to promote harmony.
- Promote teamwork
- 1 or 2 hours for sports, depending on students' interest. Good Quality equipment for all schools. No teacher can use this P.E hours for completion of syllabus.
- Holistic admissions.
- Pick random students and ask them to review teachers.
- Involve parents in their child's education. Encourage students to inform the school if parents feel doubtful about any aspect involving their child's education.
- School would be a place where nobody is a topper, everyone is intelligent, smart and equipped with a skill set.
