The Indian Education System — A boon or bane

Being the world’s largest democracy, India is unique in terms of its features and policies. India is the second most populous country and the largest student body in the world, with approximately 316 million students. As per the survey results, Indian students accommodated together would make the fourth biggest country in the world. With an increasing number of students, the issue of education in India is of utmost importance, which makes the system one of the most controversial.

Role of government

The National Policy on Education, 1986, and the Programme of Action (POA), 1992, made education free and compulsory for all children below 14.

There are two central schemes in the Indian education system -

1. The government established the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 1929. It is a national-level board of education controlled and managed by the Government of India. The National Curriculum Framework for CBSE is prepared by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Similarly, each state has its educational policies decided by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT).

2. The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is the second central scheme. It was started to replace the Cambridge School Certificate.

The National Education Policy 2020

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) of the central government was approved by the Cabinet of India on 29 July 2020. It replaced the old National Policy on Education of 1986. The policy aims to transform India’s education system by having the following key features- ● It emphasizes vocational training in both rural and urban India.

● Focus on using the mother tongue or local language as a medium of instruction in schools and colleges.

● School students will now attend three exams in classes 2, 5, and 8 instead of giving exams every academic year. Thus learning rather than merely passing the exam will be the key.

● It enhances conceptual understanding of inclusive education.

● The higher education policy includes a 4-year multi-disciplinary bachelor’s degree with multiple exit options in an undergraduate program. These include professional and vocational areas.

Pros

The significant positive factors of the education system in India are-

● Indian textbooks deal with a lot of challenging theoretical knowledge. This makes Indian students the most desirable candidates for admission to foreign universities and jobs abroad.

● The right to education is considered a fundamental right as per the Indian constitution. ● The NEP has given it a new shape.

● It assures a reservation system for the underprivileged that serves equality. ● Reduces gender inequality by reserving a certain amount of seats for girls in government educational institutions.

● Academically bright students get many scholarships.

Cons

The significant drawbacks of the education system in India are -

● The Indian education system is rooted in the British colonial system of education and still follows some old rules which haven’t been changed in recent times.

● It lacks innovation. Students are expected to be a bookworm which kills their creativity. ● Heavy emphasis is given to scores rather than skills.

● Education is not yet standardized. So there is a significant difference in the quality of education provided to rural and urban areas.

● Quality education is not affordable. Government educational Institutions are cheap but not good in terms of education quality. In contrast, private education institutions demand high fees but offer a much better quality of education.

● Government schools don’t have proper infrastructure, whereas private education institutions have much better infrastructure and equipment to study.

● Due to fewer incentives to faculties, the teacher-to-student ratio is significantly less in government schools.

● It enhances the flock mentality. F,g.- the most common educational choice for Indian parents is either doctor or engineer despite a wide range of available career options. ● The issue of mental health is not being addressed seriously.

Major Challenges

● Paper leak

Often, the school officials, along with the printing press members, leak the question paper in return for a decent amount of money — FE.g.- In 2018, the CBSE mathematics and Class 12 economics question papers were leaked. As a result, these exams were canceled, and re-exams were conducted.

● Cheating

Surveys report that most science students pass practical lab exams either by cheating or with the help of lab assistants with the assistance of school teachers. This kills the sole purpose of education,i.e., learning.

● Misuse of reservation

Many people take advantage of the reservation system despite having ample monetary resources.

Concluding notes

Despite many positive factors, the Indian education system faces many drawbacks that are tough to address until the conventional curriculum is wholly amended. The core of Indian education deals more with theory and lacks practical technological knowledge. Hence it’s not on par with the current technological advancement. Considering the needs of gen z, the system is more of a bane than a boon.