21st Century Indian Primary Education: Is It Up To The Mark?

Wow! The 21^st century!! India had evolved a lot since its inception; buildings, Industries, Hotels, Spas, Theaters etc. But, what about schools!? Are they developed enough? what about the quality of education in India? Is it on par with the rest of the world?

Well, the answer…

Let’s look at quality standards with PISA as a point of reference. (PISA) Project for International student assessment is an international comparative survey of 15 year-olds’ (46,000 learners) knowledge and skills across reading, mathematical and science literacy. India was represented by the states of Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh. The recently unveiled PISA report spread over 74 countries including the Plus nations (10 countries were added to the original 64), the two Indian states (Tamil Nadu & Himachal Pradesh) came up 72nd and 73rd out of 74 in both reading and Math. In short, India failed miserably across the three areas.(Source) 

Why is our education system failing?

Before discussing that lets know about the Capacity of Indian Education System…

Indian Education industry is a $90bn opportunity; Government’s outlay is the 3rd largest on education after US and China. We have more than 2 lac recognized middle and senior basic schools and more than 6,50,000 primary and junior basic schools in India. The allocation per child has increased from ~$390 in 2010 to ~ $800(é213%) in ’12. This is an impressive scale indeed and if we don’t go beyond, this would make India one of the most successful school ecosystems.(Source)

The main reason for the failure of Indian education system is that, it lacks in quality.

• Children are carrying nearly 70 to 90 books on their backs every day to schools.
• Children are spending on an average of 12 hours [7am – 7pm] a day in schools.
• Children are compelled to mug up the answers.
• Children are not given any freedom to do what they like, other than academics.
• Out of those 70 books how many are about life, morals and values?
  and many more…. 

All this should change.

Forbesindia.com stated in an article ‘Primary Education in India Needs a Fix’ that ‘There’s an urgent need to improve children’s knowledge of concepts rather than rote learning. For that to happen, teaching systems at the primary level must be overhauled.’

It is very true. How can that be done?

Here are some steps...

Reduce the number of books:

When a child gets to carry so much weight on his shoulders he will get strained by the time he reaches school from home. How can he be enthusiastic and energetic for the following classes?

So schools must either provide lockers for kids in their premises itself or must reduce the number of books carried by children.

Teach students how to improve their IQ, instead of, how to get marks:

The most important mistake that the schools are doing is that, they are teaching students how to get marks. The problem with this approach is that, a 6^th grade student will be taught how to get marks for class 6. Then the student passes the exams and then gets promoted to 7^th grade. Now this 7^th grade student will again be trained how to get marks in 7^th class. Then 8^th, and then 9^th and so on the same continues. That is not helpful. It would never be helpful for them. Instead, teach students how to improve their IQ along their standards (classes). Then students will self-improvise and will automatically do well in academics.

Teach the concepts and application, not how to mug up:

Schools must try to inject the subject into students in a proper and well formulated way. Schools must make the children understand the concepts. Children must be also trained on how to apply the knowledge that they are acquiring. Remember, children can make the best use of their knowledge only when they are able to apply it.

Reduce the Schooling hours:

12 hours of schooling! That’s way too much. Schooling hours must be in between 6 to 8 hours [9am – 4pm] a day.  After 4pm, kids would go home, get to spend some time with their parents and then get to study under the supervision of their parents. Studying under the supervision of their parents helps children a lot.(It is the responsibility of schools to educate parents regarding this, if required.) Children must also be given a 10 minute break after every 2 periods (assuming each period of 40mins) and lunch time of good 40 minutes. This helps students to refresh their minds in-between the classes and get ready for next classes.

Students deserve some freedom:

Schools must not confine students to academics alone. If they do so, students will get exhausted. They will get sick of boredom. They are children, remember. They have to be super active. The best way to keep them charged up is by giving some time to train them in what they are interested, like painting, dance, singing, sports, reading, acting etc.; and this must be a daily process, not once in a week or month.

Teach about life, morals and values:

The reality of life must be taught right from the childhood itself. So must be the morals and values. In my school days there used to be a specific session for this called by the name ‘moral science’. Now-a-days I don’t see it. Such a pity it was removed from schooling curriculum. Remember, Education without values and morals is worth nothing. Science and Math will not form the character of students. It is Morals and Values that do.

In the words of Swami Vivekananda…

“Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there undigested, all your life. Education for him means that process by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, and intellect is sharpened, as a result of which one can stand on one’s own feet.” (Source)

THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL is PARENT AWARENESS:

Parents must always be up-to-date with the world education ecosystem. Parents need enquire more about the systems of the schools before enrolling their kids. Parents need to point out the inappropriate parts of the system and must force the schools to correct them.

In India, we believe schools as abode of Goddess Saraswathi. So, we must make sure that schooling will always be a moral and right path for our future generations. If not we, then who will?

Thank you for reading...

We need to Act upon now...