Indian Education System

by | Blogs

10506564_686286814776685_9083200931184487662_o

Author: Manoranjan Patra, Finance Controller, IAMPL

I have been a keen follower of the Indian Education system. The other day I was participating in a discussion forum of the Learning and Development group. The learned members of the group were sharing their insightful thoughts on the topic. I felt it would be a case of lost opportunity, if I don’t capture these brilliant thoughts. I decided to capture the key insights from the discussion so that others could benefit from them. I have captured the key summary below:

Current State

There are basic skill and Technical skill gap among students. There has to be a paradigm shift in the elementary curriculum keeping the changing demand in eye. The Indian education system was designed by British to groom clerks not managers. With time the education system did not evolve as much as needed to, which is why skill like thinking, communication, people management and soft and behavioral skills are not developed in students. To make matter worse, whatever students do study is for the purpose of exam and not for learning. This is why fresh engineers, doctors, lawyers, MBA’s know littlie.

Also our text books are not only poorly written but don’t even have an accurate index in many cases. Often there is no structural unity or coherent pattern. This makes it hard for students and tutor to teach or help with successful studying habits. Often projects assigned to students are so poorly conceived that there is no real or objective grading criterion except number of pages filled and high gloss exterior for good marks.

Our current Education system emphasizes on elementary system of education, which mostly pupil takes up owing to what their parents or the current society thinks. Our system must emphasizes on the signature skill of the person like, A person might be good at mathematics but his love is more towards painting which he does not know. If he gets training, he would excel in painting.

Recommendations

  • Do not make education a lifeless bore within the confine of pen, paper and books. Education extends to entire gamut of our existence from beginning to end transcending class room to world room. A teacher should have an overview of everything and should keep himself in constant endeavor and stage of preparedness. Then only his teachings would have a meaningful impact on students in their preparation to face challenges of life. Education then becomes lively and acquires a dynamic vitality. Sometimes the teacher has to put questions in a very general way to help develop student’s quest for the subject. On the other hand, whenever problems and questions are posed by the students, their answers should invariably be clear and within their grasp and understanding.
  • Even science or commerce students should be required to take a couple humanities or art/literature courses. Likewise arts students take some business or basic science classes. Well rounded education for a holistic approach, so we relate to each other and appreciate others skill within our work environment.
  • Holistic view of education should be given with all the traditional subjects like language subject, Mathematics, Applied science, Moral study and others
  • The examination pattern should be 60{8ead27c4518c0b10559874054ae3fda4d54ed4b9784c4144c679fdb93c45d0af} subjective and 40{8ead27c4518c0b10559874054ae3fda4d54ed4b9784c4144c679fdb93c45d0af} on real time project or case studies
  • Empowering an individual with complete fundamental education to go for higher study with his/her skills
  • To design the higher study curriculums, a skill council should be framed up by appointing the eminent individuals from all the skill areas and revision of this curriculum should be done in time to time
  • Looking this current technological changes, basic computer programming should be a part of the curriculum
  • Students can be given platform for corporate Internship or summer job to accumulate practical ideas
  • Research oriented projects to be part the curriculum and Project must have a grading rubric with criteria for objective assessment, clearly articulated learning objectives and outcomes
  • Apart from the elementary education plays an important role in developing soft skills and communication