Indian Education

With its plurality and paradoxes, India never ceases to fascinate. And education in
India is only one among various other elements that have captured the attention of
the world. While the United Nations is worried about the presence of a large
number of illiterates, various other countries are amazed by the quality of some of
the human resources that the Indian education system has produced.
The growth of the Indian economy in the recent past and the compulsion to
sustain it is also forcing the Indian government to accelerate the process of
developing all the branches of the Indian education system. Therefore, it would be
very interesting to understand and analyze the various structures of education in
India, its present condition and future developments.
Historical Background:
The Vedas, Puranas, Ayurveda,Yoga, Kautilya's Arthasahtra are only some of the
milestones that the traditional Indian knowledge system boasts of. There are
evidences of imparting formal education in ancient India under the Gurukul
system.
Under the Gurukul system, young boys who were passing through the
Brahmacharya stage of life had to stay at the Guru or the teacher's home and
complete
their
education.
Although the ancient system of education has produced many geniuses and still a
major area of research, it was hardly egalitarian. Women and people of lower
castes gradually lost their right to educate themselves.
The spread of Jainism, Buddhism, Bhakti and Sufi movements did have some
liberating effects on the condition of the women, sudras and atisudras. But it is the
English language and the reformation movements of the 19th century that had the
most liberating effect in pre-independent India. Thus, the Britishers, although
rightly criticized for devastating the Indian economy, can also be credited for
bringing a revolution in the Indian education system.
Present Condition of Education in India:

Soon after gaining independence in 1947, making education available to all had
become a priority for the government. As discrimination on the basis of caste and
gender has been a major impediment in the healthy development of the Indian
society, they have been made unlawful by the Indian constitution.

The 86th constitutional amendment has also made elementary education a

fundamental right for the children between the age group- 6 to 14. According to the
2001 census, the total literacy rate in India is 65.38%. The female literacy rate is
only 54.16%. The gap between rural and urban literacy rate is also very significant
in India. This is evident from the fact that only 59.4% of rural population are
literate as against 80. 3% urban population according to the 2001 census.
In order to develop the higher education system, the government had established
the University Grants Commission in 1953. The primary role of UGC has been to
regulate the standard and spread of higher education in India. There has been a
marked progress in the expansion of higher education if we look at the increase of
higher educational institutes in India. The higher education system in India
comprise of more than17000 colleges, 20 central universities, 217 State
Universities, 106 Deemed to Universities and 13 institutes of Natioanl importance.
This number will soon inflate as the setting up of 30 more central universities, 8
new IITs, 7 IIMs and 5 new Indian Institutes of Science are now proposed.
Education System in India:
The present education system in India mainly comprises of primary education,
secondary education, senior secondary education and higher education. Elementary
education consists of eight years of education. Each of secondary and senior
secondary education consists of two years of education. Higher education in India
starts after passing the higher secondary education or the 12th standard. Depending
on the stream, doing graduation in India can take three to five years. Post graduate
courses are generally of two to three years of duration. After completing post
graduation, scope for doing research in various educational institutes also remains
open.
Prominent Educational Institutes in India:
There are quite a good number of educational institutes in India that can compete

with the best educational institutes of the world. The Indian Institutes of
Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian Institutes of
Science, National Law Schools, Jawaharlal Nehru University are some such
institutes.
Education for the Marginalized in India:
As education is the means for bringing socio- economic transformation in a
society, various measures are being taken to enhance the access of education to the
marginalized sections of the society. One such measure is the introduction of the
reservation system in the institutes of higher education. Under the present law,
7.5% seats in the higher educational institutes are reserved for the scheduled tribes,
15% for scheduled castes and 27% for the non creamy layers of the Other
Backward Classes (OBCs). Under the Indian constitution, various minority groups
can also set up their own educational institutes. Efforts are also being taken to
improve the access to higher education among the women of India by setting up
various educational institutes exclusively for them or reserving seats in the already
existing institutes. The growing acceptance of distance learning courses and
expansion of the open university system is also contributing a lot in the
democratization
of
higher
education
in
India.
Present Education System in India

The present system of higher education does not serve the purpose for which it has
been started. In general education itself has become so profitable a business that
quality is lost in the increase of quantity of professional institutions with quota
system and politicization adding fuel to the fire of spoil system, thereby increasing
unemployment of graduates without quick relief to mitigate their sufferings in the
job market of the country. So, the drawbacks of the higher education system
underscore the need for reforms to make it worthwhile and beneficial to all
concerned.
Competition:
Next to China, India is the most populated country in the world. Naturally there is
too much rush and competition in every field. So, rush to technical and higher

education has increased as scope for arts and science has become lesser and lesser
due to lack of reforms and up gradation in the course structure and materials
according to the developments of the world. Also, qualification in higher education
gives added advantage to face successfully competition in the job market.
Purpose

of

Education:

All round development of personality is the purpose of education. But the present
day education is neither imparting true knowledge of life, world and helping one
stand on ones own leg nor improving the talent of a student by which one can
achieve laurels in the field one is interested. So, combination of arts subjects and
computer science and science and humanities or literature should be introduced so
that such courses could be useful for the students to do jobs after recruitment in
some companies which would reduce unnecessary rush to higher education.
Right

Course

of

Action:

In India around 240 Universities controlling somewhere 5000 colleges of various

courses churning out millions of graduates seeking jobs in vain due to lack of
employability, communication skill and entrepreneurship quality. In Tamil Nadu
State of India alone (from 2000 to 2006) more than 600, 000 students are hunting
for jobs without hope due to political rivalries and lack of investments in job
generating manufacturing units and companies. This is one side of the picture.
On the other side, all want to become Engineers or Doctors or Computer specialists
in IT or Software, which is beyond the reach of many and also, all cannot shine in
such a line if not suited later on. So, to overcome disappointments in the working
life clear appraisal of ones Self is necessary before pursuing a course of action.
For that not specialization but general education covering all subjects (arts,
science, literature, technology, agriculture and defense studies) is very essential.
After education, tour to all the places in India and world as far as possible with the
cooperation of government is necessary so that one can understand about people,
culture, arts, literature, religions, technological developments and progress of
human
society
in
the
world.

Basing this knowledge one should have a vision of ones future life and work in
the world and decide about the future course of action, i.e. whether to go for higher
education
or
do
job
suitable
to
one.
Finally, based on knowledge only vision of the future life and work can be had;
based on this vision only a broad ambition can be fixed for oneself; and based on
this ambition only one can lead interesting life doing satisfying job to do
remarkable
achievements
in
some
field
in
the
world.
Individuality
Otherwise, the life of one will not be interesting but rather boring, monotonous and
frustrating. This is mainly due to parental interference in the education of the
children. Parental guidance is necessary but it should not interfere in the creativity
or individuality of the students. Also, in spite of the obsolete type of education
system, some are achieving wonderful things in Sports, Music, Dance, Painting,
Science and Technology in the world! This is only due to the encouragement of the
parents and some dedicated teachers in the educational institutions.
Higher

Education:

Higher education is necessary for one to achieve excellence in the line one is best.
But one should be selected for higher education on the basis of merit only. Further,
fees for education in general should not be high; especially, the fees for higher
studies should be within the reach of every class of people in the nation.
Standard:
In any nation education is the basic necessity for the socio-economic development
of the individuals and the society. In reality only 20% of the population is educated
in India. Also, only 25% of the Universities are having world class education. So,
improved standard of education as first priority should be offered to the majority
by the govt. authorities with sincere political will. Also, privatization of higher
education is absolutely necessary in a vast country like India as government alone
is
helpless
to
do
so.
Quality:

That is the way peoples quality of life can be improved and also, the nation can
economically compete with the developed nations of the world. So, private
educational institutions can give higher education to all irrespective of economic
status of the students. As far as quality of education is concerned it should be under
the control of a central institute such as All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE)
and
the
respective
Universities
concerned.
World

Class

Education:

Indian government is not giving priority to the development of Standard in

education. India should aspire for the international standard in education. To
achieve that goal it should adopt uniform international syllabus in its educational
institutions.
Many national universities like in the USA, UK, Australia, etc. allow studies in
higher education for foreign students in their countries and through correspondence
courses as well. In the same way India Universities of world class education can
also offer courses of studies to foreign students taking advantage of the
globalization
process.
Personality

Development:

Finally, education should be for the flowering of personality but not for the
suppression of creativity or natural skill. In the globalized world opportunities for
the educated people are naturally ample in scope. As a result business process
outsourcing (BPO) activities have increased competition in the world trade leading
towards the production of quality goods and their easy availability everywhere in
the world market. That is the way the world can be developed for peace, prosperity
and progress by able and skilful men.
Conclusion:
Despite all the efforts to develop the education system in India, access, equity and
quality of education in India continue to haunt the policy makers till this date. This
has mainly been due to the widespread poverty and various prejudices. The

inability to check the drop out rates among the marginalized sections of the
population is another cause of worry. However, the renewed emphasis in the
education sector in the 11th five year plan and increased expenditure in both
primary and higher education can act as palliatives for the Indian education system.

Indias
Reservation
Education Institutions

Policy

in

Higher

chillibreeze writer Sudheendra Dhulipala

The term Reservation has been doing the rounds within the Indian media circuit
of late owing to the government decision to implement 27% quota for the OBCs in
the educational institutions of higher learning. Time has come to study the
significance of this matter and see its consequences on the country in the future.
When our country achieved independence, a large section of the society was
leading a miserable life. They had been exploited for ages and the false beliefs in
the society at that time further worsened their condition. The government of that
day introduced the concept of reservations so that there would be equal progress of
all sections of the society. Over the years, the condition of the people of reserved
categories has improved at a fast rate while that of the middle class, general or
open category people has remained more or less the same. After nearly 60 years of
independence now, general category people have started to feel that they are being
subjugated and that the odds have been stacked against them. At a time like this,
the governments decision to bring out legislation to implement a 27% quota for
OBCs adds further fuel to the fire.
There are a large number of failings in the reasons publicized by the government
for implementing this decision. Firstly, the government has rooted its decision in a
survey conducted by the Britishers prior to Independence, on the percentage of the
OBCs in the population. The reserved category candidates occupy nearly 52% of
the government jobs today. Then what is the immediate need to increase the

quotas? Though the government would not agree to it, most people feel that this is
just another way of wooing the voters.
The above stated move by the government brought out the students, resident
doctors and even the faculty members of AIIMS and many other hospitals to
protest against the government. None of us would hesitate to say that these doctors
were inhuman and heartless to have neglected even the emergency services. But
isnt it our government that is to be held responsible for a situation like this. Year
after year, the governments of India have been enforcing their will on the people,
making us ponder if ours is a democracy at all.
In a free and fair country, the candidate who is the most worthy should get the
opportunity irrespective of his caste, creed and religion. When caste becomes the
criteria for selection, how can one expect to get what is honestly due to him. The
government argues that it can balance the equation by increasing the number of
seats in the educational institutions. But then it is the quality of education that
suffers. Before we come to the higher secondary stage none of us even talks of
these quotas. Then the process of applying for the entrance exams for the
professional courses starts and the seeds of caste get drilled into our minds. Each
time before elections, new reservations start to emerge. Governments are
practicing the policy of divide and rule with our own people. We hear this even
during admissions to under-graduate courses. But is it correct to carry it into the
post-graduation phase also?
Nowadays the value of professional education has plummeted with a large number
of private institutions entering into the stream. The number of engineers coming
out every year is beyond the imagination. It is like pampering kids through school
and junior college right into the professional education stream, without requiring
any effort from them at all. But do we need to do it even at the post graduation
level? When will a person learn to go all-out for something in life? How far can
they go when they have been driven into the industry and have not learnt the art of
survival to start with?
The decision has indeed drawn flak from many quarters. Getting reservations
would be a good thing, but the advantage always lies with the more privileged
section of these backward castes. For instance, most students from backward castes
do not reveal the truth about their parents income and get the scholarships for
education that they wouldnt get normally. We must also consider what the future
of the candidates who acquire education through reservation will be. At present,
since the percentage of quotas is small, the employers dont bother. If the

government implements this decision, nearly 50% of the seats will be under
reservation. The employers in future might start dividing candidates into reserved
and unreserved categories. There are many merited students even from the OBCs
and other reserved categories. Wouldnt it hurt their sentiments if the employers
start to look down at them as they have obtained their degrees through reservation?
It is right that some sections have been oppressed for decades, hindering their
progress. But the government cannot reverse the process and repair the wrong done
in decades with a single move. This decision has occurred mainly as a result of the
hype over the high salaries that IIT and IIM graduates have been getting recently.
These institutions are seen as places where people can get rich. The government
wants to give opportunities to the backward castes to earn similar salaries. But this
should not happen at the cost of the quality of education. There is no doubt that
when the quality of education suffers, there wont be such high salaries anyway.
There is one more thing we should look at. The involvement of the courts in
various strike-related issues has just lead to the end of these strikes, but it hasnt
been able to provide justice to the protesters. The courts, which we look to for a
fair solution to any issue, have only been leaning toward the government. Even in
the case of the protest of resident doctors in Andhra Pradesh against increase in the
quota for service candidates in the PG course seats, the protesters got nothing but
an assurance from the government that the matter will be looked into. The courts in
many other cases have been successful only in obtaining assurances and not in
delivering justice to the people. This really questions the law which states that no
strikes or protests must be staged on an issue when the matter is in judicial review.
This law is in favor of the government and must be looked into immediately.
There is a strong feeling these days that in the future there wont be a single
general category student going for higher education in India. It looks like the
government wants to make it a reality too. It is alright as long as there is no limit
on the number of general category students going abroad and banks keep providing
huge loans, but there are many who cannot afford to take these loans at high
interest rates. The solution to the overall problem cannot be obtained in a short
period of time. Firstly, the government should have the latest statistics of different
categories of people within the society at the present time. Since India has a large
population, more institutions which can impart high quality education to the
students should be opened in various parts of India and the institutions that we
have at present should be upgraded to meet the rising demands. The government
should also do something for the economically backward people of the higher
castes who have been left to strive for themselves. Lets be positive and hope the

government will consider all these factors and find a solution that is fair and just
for all and not try to impose its will on the people.

Courses
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Clear-cut Career Objectives

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