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@75 Year of Independence: India's Sluggish Education System

By: Geetu Katyal and Harsh Kumar

Education is considered as a foundation for any country, the same applies to India as well who is observing its 75th year of Independence. But the Education system of this country is still in harsh conditions, as a result, its institutions are still unable to make their space in world tops institutions.

Confine education system

Although recently India has launched their New Educational policy (NEP), its outcomes are still awaited. Coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the present education system all across the world, but its impact on India is very harsh.

According to the Government of India data, around 2.9 crore students do not have digital accessibility to attend online classes. As a consequence of that, they were deprived of their education for 2 years.

India is celebrating its 75th independence anniversary but freedom in education is still awaited. All the schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao appear as false mirages.

Did every student get Chance to learn?

The Right to Education Act 2009 has given by Parliament of India to ensure the education of students between the age group of 6-14 years under 21(A) of the constitution of India. But here the question raises, Did every student of India get a chance to Learn? 


 Because reality differs: 

• According to UNICEF data 160 million children were subjected to child labor at the beginning of 2020.

• The Unified District Information System for Education report shows that 84% schools have libraries and reading rooms, but the twist is only 69.4% of them have libraries with books.

• Central government 2019-20 data also shows that 78 percent of schools still don’t have internet facilities and 61 percent don't have computers. 

It's been more than 10 years of Right of Education but this data clearly shows the reality of the Indian education system. We are still facing the Gap between students and educators. 

 Why Girls' school drop rate is so high?

Let's discuss approximately 50% of the population of India. Whenever it comes to Girls' education, most people come up with brilliant ideas to not to educate girls and force them to follow professions like teaching, so that they can focus on home and work both easily. But why do we make restrictions and different criteria when it comes to girls' education? Being a Girl is a crime or a mistake? 

 

According to the ministry of statistics and program implementation 2018 data more than 30% of girls drop school in 9th standard, it rises to 57% in class 11th. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights show's around 65% of girls who do not attend any educational institution because they are forced to do household activities. 

 

With the passage of time, we are progressing but we still need to work on girls' education and issues like a dropout.


Education system halts freedom of thinking

India is still following the education system of Thomas Babington Macaulay launched this system in the year of 1830s.

The present Indian education system is fully cram-centric, which halts students to think diversely. Freedom of thinking plays an important role in the development of human beings and society.

Student’s minds are shaped in such a way that they are only able to think about getting the marks irrespective of learning. Their mind has developed in such a way that by getting good marks they can enroll in good colleges and universities from where they can get good marks. In most cases, it happens but the major problems which Indian youth is facing after getting into the job.

According to the data given by the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education), the Education Commission, and UNICEF, only more than 50% of Indian youth are not on track to have the education and skills required for employment by 2030.

No freedom of Choosing streams

Many students like Sandeep Sharma who have scored good marks in class 10th cannot go for streams like humanity. As there is a stereotype in Indian society that commerce and humanity streams are made for the average or below-average students.

Selecting streams in India is not in the hand of the reader but it is in the hand of their parents and society. As a result of that, they are not able to perform well in the classes and their confidence along with their talent is dumped into the garden.

Race for getting admissions in the premier institutions like IITs and IIMs have increased with bullet train speed in the last decades.

Students of India are burdened with doing good in academics, they do not have any importance on the basis of their sports and other Extracurricular Activities.


About Author: Geetu Katyal is a journalism student at Delhi University and Harsh Kumar is a journalism student in Jamia Millia Islamia.




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