Recently, there was an interesting discussion on CNBC TV about whether the educational system in India is better than in America. We have covered the advantages of the Indian educational system in the previous article. Now, we will discuss its cons or areas for improvement.
Improvement areas
Most of the students in India find themselves in technical schools and universities without their interest and passion for the subject. The result is — inefficient and dissatisfied employees. India has a literacy rate of 66%, and the budget for the Indian education system is almost 1 lakh crore rupees (US $ 17 billion). The Indian educational system is also considered one of the oldest in the world. Nalanda University, which was founded in the 5th century AD, was the first university to be established anywhere in the world. Today, the Indian education system offers the world the best technocrats, educators and entrepreneurs.
Statistics
There are around 3400 engineering colleges in India, which are approved by AICTE, the regulatory body of India. The total number of places available in these universities is more than 1.1 million. Of these engineering colleges, 65% are located in South India and 35% in the North. Similarly, there are around 350 medical schools that offer MBBS degree courses. Of these 350 universities, 160 are government universities and the rest are private. The total number of places available in these courses is around 65,000. So engineering, medicine, education, science, law and management are the most sought after careers in India.
Basic system defects
In a random survey, it was found that the majority of the boys were interested in a career in engineering, while the majority of the girls wanted to become doctors after their 10 + 2 graduation. It was also observed that, for the Most Indian students, parents greatly influence the choice of a career. Young students are discouraged from pursuing the professions of their choice. Most Indians feel that the current Indian educational system has been gifted to them by the British, and their aim was to produce more and more skilled servants for the British Empire.
It is a well known fact that the educational system in India has serious flaws. There is a serious lack of functional literacy. The lack of scope for creativity is another serious flaw. Most curricula are based on knowledge from textbooks with little focus on the field. So it’s more about academics without serious hands-on exposure. There are disparities in various streams. Vocational streams are always looked down upon in the Indian educational system and there are only three or four career options available to everyone. If you want to pursue a career of your choice, you will have to rebel against your parents and society.
Old-fashioned and traditional methods.
The Indian education system is still struggling with the chalk and talk style of teaching. Multimedia, technology, and computers are not fully integrated into the educational system. Another serious flaw in the system is the lack of world-class research facilities. If you don’t follow the outdated curriculum and research, you are out of the system. This system also encourages private teaching, due to the great emphasis on bookish knowledge and it is despite the fact that students spend between 7 and 8 hours studying in schools. It increases the tendency to flout theory and discourages creativity and curiosity.
Lack of creativity
Most students are force-fed theoretical knowledge. But, when we look at the most successful people in the world, these were the people who followed their passion at a young age. IITs are considered the most reputable technical schools in India, but unfortunately people go there as part of a fee race and for a better financial future rather than a “real technical search”. Even the best minds in India don’t have a plan for the future!
conclusion
The first step to improve the Indian education system is to integrate technology into it, as it is considered to be the best way to deliver education today. Teachers must be trained to use technology in the classroom. Efficient counseling must occur at the high school level, so that students can make the right decision about their careers. They should be presented with all the options and flows that are available to them. A hands-on approach must be introduced into classrooms like Prof. Walter Lewin did at MIT, while teaching physics, to produce world-class students. Sports and extracurricular activities should also be encouraged at the school level. Parents must stop the tendency to impose a career on their children. Rather, it should be left to the students to decide what they want to choose as a career.