Joydeep Dey

Indian Education System – An Insight Education is the foundation of any country's economy. Enhancement in the education sector directly results in advancement in a nation's economy - as it is essential for the development of intellect and enhances the skill-set of the workforce - which can make better use of the available technologies. So if a developing country like India wants to focus on its growth, emphasis must be given to improve the education system. Current Scenarios & Challenges India as a country faces many problems & challenges in the educational system currently. Though India preaches that it wants to be a fully literate country, it is so saddening that India's literacy rate is still amongst the lowest in the world. Millions of people are deprived of their fundamental right to education. The Indian government and institutions have been working to reform the existing education model. However, there are still several issues which are required to be taken care of. Listed below are a few of them at the macro level: • • Eighty-five percent of schools in India are located in rural areas. According to a survey conducted recently, approximately 95.2 percent of these schools are not yet compliant with the complete set of RTE (Right To Education) infrastructure indicators. There has been a steady decline in enrolment rates at the primary level in recent years. Dropout rates in secondary education have been consistently high as well. Poor infrastructure & lack of facilities are the primary reasons for the low turnout of students in schools. • • • • • • Necessities, such as clean & hygienic drinking water and separate toilets for boys and girls, are not available in many schools, even in urban India. Traditional Indian society suffers from many kinds of discrimination. There are many hurdles in the education of unprivileged sections of society, including SC, ST, minority, and women. The education system in India is mostly theoretical, that is, more information-based rather than knowledge-based. The whole focus is on cramming facts rather than understanding and analyzing it. Moreover, education is measured primarily in terms of marks obtained in exams, not on actual knowledge. In most schools, the teacher's selection & recruitment process is not merit-based. They are mostly selected as per the choice of selectors or upon the recommendation of local political leaders. Lack of proper academic qualifications and competency in pedagogy is another challenge. Minimal emphasis is given to teacher-training in our schools, which is why many of our teachers are not aware of new developments in education. Industries often face problems finding suitable employee/s as the education provided is not proper for direct employment. So an organization is usually required to spend large amounts on providing job-oriented training for its employee/s. A very minimal amount of subsidy is provided for higher education, so if the student seeks to obtain higher education, he/she still misses out because of lack of economic resources. The demand for financial resources far exceeds the supply, and a very small amount is available for innovative programs and ideas. What Can Be Done? Though the literacy rate is slowly climbing up the stairs, but there are bottlenecks in the process, nevertheless. The following measures are discussed in brief, which could help address and resolve some of those challenges: 1. Adoption of Technology In today's scenario (particularly concerning the prevailing Covid-19 situation), effective use of technological tools in teaching seems to be the most effective solution. It will solve many problems of infrastructure, quality, and reach. Technology can play a vital role in the learning process. With the advent of audio-visual aids, smart-boards, online content, and connected classrooms, the job seems to be getting easier. With online education being the norm, institutes should use technology appropriately to make audio and video tutorials available for everyone through the internet. These educational materials are to be prepared by academic experts who hail from reputed colleges & institutes. 2. Teacher's Training Teachers' training remains one of the most chaotic, neglected, and deficient sectors of India's vast education system. This needs to be changed as they virtually hold the destiny of the future generations in their hands. They are the most critical players in the whole system and occupy the center stage. Teachers need to be tested, evaluated, and trained regularly. Regular motivation in the forms of recognition and honoring will go a long way. 3. Inclusive System Growth in the education sector should incorporate all sections of society including rural, urban, poor, minorities, women, and backward classes. The government needs to review the reservation system and its need in society as well. Further, equal opportunities given to every child irrespective of his/her caste, creed, class, or social background will help raise the standard of education in India. 4. Quality Education Education provided should meet the students' needs - it should allow them to enhance their skills and get better employment options. . This will also help in advancing the global standing of Indian educational institutions (at all levels) and bring them at par with the world's leading institutions. 5. Increased Government Spending India targeted towards devoting a 6% share of the GDP towards the educational sector; however, the performance has fallen short of expectations. Also, funding is needed to be spent on building infrastructure. 6. Revised Education Policy The Educational Policy also needs frequent updates and revisions. It should cover the creativity and personality development aspects of students. It should also imbibe values of culture and social service. The newly inducted Education Policy (reformed after three decades, thankfully) is a silver lining here. Conclusion India is one big country in terms of population density and diversity. Building and maintaining an education system that caters to so many people is not an easy task. Education needs to be available to all, but overall development needs to be a part of the curriculum too. The solution lies in a change in our mindset, approach, and adopting a more inclusive policy. The problems are multiple and too huge to be solved in a short period. Several factors have to be employed simultaneously to improve the system.