Indian education system needs revolutionary changes

The Indian education system needs a total overhauling. We have to quit focusing only on degrees and numbers. There is no focus on merit and quality education. High numbers of enrollment is not a thing to be proud of. Instead of focused only on enrollments and given them almost fake degrees and certificates, we must guide them towards knowledge, information and self-employment.

The Indian teaching structure does not give worldly and practical knowledge. Our system is centred only on giving admissions and taking exams for everybody. In the name of de-stressing the students, now easy ways are adapted to pass them. Students are transformed as senseless robots. They have hardly any insight and understanding. The teaching methodology is just about enrollments and inflated pass marks.

There is a fixed curriculum at every level. All have to stick to that. Entire knowledge is confined to a few hundred pages. Nonetheless, large numbers of learners do not study those few hundred pages. They adopt shortcuts and cheating. We blindly follow the western models. Aren’t we must follow our own pattern according to Indian needs and environments. With the implementation of internal assessment, exam system is diluted radically. This method has even given freedom to students from approved course readings. This is just like a legal cheating process. It is like gulping eatables without chewing.  Nobody understands the Indian realities and needs.

There are thousands of careers to pursue but in our context emphasis is only to get a permanent and white caller job or better a government job with all the benefits but no accountability. Education should make the parents open their eyes and broaden their mind. Parents are the first teachers and home is the first kindergarten. Their understanding should know about the diverse profession choices that are available. For example, farm and agriculture sector have the biggest employment opportunities. 

Shortage of qualified teachers is a big problem in the country. Educators play the most important role in the life of a student. They are just like a second mother, the chief fountain of information for them. It is this period, teachers shape lives, futures and morals. A doctor can save the life of a child by proper medical treatment; however, a good educator can accomplish the core of that child and facilitate him to successfully live. It’s just simple clear, teachers are saints yet they habitually get criticized. They do not have support nor do they have any rights and benefits.

Educational programs are controlled and made by bureaucrats, who scarcely have any knowledge and understanding of the real issues. Only real educators must be appointed as specialists and policymakers. This will attract talent and empower the system to face the challenges. We do not give an educator as much as a bureaucrat or a specialist.

The situation in state-funded institutions is very bad. They have terribly poor infrastructure. Emphasis should not there on free and compulsory education. But the emphasis should be only on quality education. Non-serious students should not be forced to study.

The government institutions become a fighting ground for quota warriors. Everybody must get an equal chance to get into the universities according to his\her merit. No weight should be given to caste, religion or region. Only the poor should be funded by the state. Special attention should be given to the education of girls. All the learners should be sensitised about the rights of girls.

Educational institutions should be all about education and knowledge. There should not be any provision to caste and religious quotas and freebies like free sterile napkins, meals, books, clothes, etc.

There should not be any competition among the schools. Ranking should be done on educational institutions. This method forces the institutions and boards to manipulate or inflate marks and grade. Even the HRD has stopped this practice. Institutions, students and parents must be ready to face the truth, howsoever unattractive it may prove. This is a very important step in the reforms. For example, a few years back CBSE strangely gave exactly 95 marks in math to every student who actually got 79 to 95 marks, and illogically inflated the English mark of all its Delhi students by 12 marks. In Uttar Pradesh, there are examples of 100% moderation, e.g. students with 28% marks in chemistry being given 56% marks in their final results.

To shun manipulation and inflation of grades marks, will create faith in the exam system. This is the corrupt method used to get better the quality of education in the country. The grading system is also faulty so as to give the real picture to parents and students. The secondary results data hold very valuable information for policymakers and educators. It can be used to identify high and low performing students, schools, regions, socio-economic segments for corrective actions.

Satisfaction levels of the students and parents, infrastructure, faculty salary and numbers, environment friendliness, discipline etc. parameters should be encouraged. Education policymakers and the exam boards need to seriously consider reforms on the actual performance of schools and colleges in examinations, to improve quality of education and career.