Education is an important pillar of any society. It is of utmost importance that we give it all the privileges it requires to flourish. If education blossoms, it showers us with a lot of effective instruments to progress in this competitive world. For a country like India, education takes prime position. Ours is a knowledge based economy and if we dilute the effectiveness of our educational system by introducing dubious administrative policies, Dr. Kalam’s dream of seeing India as an educational superpower will be drowned in the words of his book.
Our country has seen very many policies which seem to be heading towards some success, but then again for every good policy, there are multiple policies which seem to mar the prospect of a sound educational system. The ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ was a good step towards universal education and was pregnant with good causes and expectant with a hopeful execution. Then again, in its wake came the very unsavoury Reservation Bill and this completely manhandled the purpose of education.
The establishment of a few more IITs is an amazing step, yet the fact remains that they have begun operating in make-shift campuses or in the classrooms of the older IITs. IIM Ahmedabad won’t be allowed an additional campus in Mumbai till there is an excess, unwanted and unnecessary reservation for students of Maharashtra. What can we say about such administrative policies? Is there much to even discuss as to how clueless the babus are when they decide upon educational matters?
One facet of the Indian educational system which I believe is hampering our growth is the allowance given to states to formulate their own educational systems in addition to one existing in the centre, which is the CBSE or ICSE/ISC. With two or maybe three active educational boards existing in every state, there is a very thin line between a possibility of a chaotic environment, as a direct result of the dual board system, and a harmonious existence.
A single unified system is better because it helps us focus on what is important. It also helps the people to completely identify with the system of education prevalent in the country rather than be confused as to its implications. I have traveled a good measure of the country and have studied all around. I cannot even begin to describe the discomfort of fitting into the various systems of education which are in every state. Fitting into the different basics of each state syllabus can take a toll and is not a pleasant experience.
One might argue the presence of Central Schools across the parameter of the country, but how many families constantly on the move would make a choice of this system. Private schools offer more appealing options. Accommodation of students in this environment becomes troublesome with the addition of the state language in the curriculum. It adds to the difficulty. With personal experience I had to learn two state languages with enormous difficulty while I resided in Gujarat and Orissa.
A unified system of examination and education will also help facilitate college admission, especially in the places where prestigious colleges are placed. I have come across instances where good student and more importantly deserving students have failed to apply to the Delhi University admission process because the state board results have failed to come up in the time complying with the admission dates.
Then there is the dilemma of how the colleges and universities evaluate students of different educational background and give them admission into the courses offered. The biggest obstacle is to judge both the capabilities with judicious judgment so as not to discriminate one against the other. Still there are problems in this situation. There are no set guidelines as to how to separately evaluate every students presenting himself/herself from a different educational board. The government has not presented us or has not thought it to be prudent enough to draw up such procedures. It does not also help us when we understand that our admission procedure is all about marks and does not look at the over all student as a person.
With such kind of educational losses, which take place on both sides, it is necessary that the government lead by the HRD Ministry, needs to consolidate the entire process of education in the country thus bringing the entire faculty under one umbrella. It will help us unify the very disarrayed system of education. The problems discussed above will mitigate and help us to create an even more effective knowledge economy in the country
