Are we not realizing it too late that our existing education system is not at par with the industry requirements? In fact, a new education policy should have come into existence many years back. Also, the existing education system is not student’s future-centric. There is no criterion to match a child’s enthusiasm for the subjects he takes in the school. In fact, the whole ecosystem contains a lot of loopholes. Addressing them and fix them right is a tedious task. But it is not impossible. At least, for the first time, somebody is taking initiatives in this direction. The credit goes to the current central government who is daring to challenge this 70-year old mechanism. otherwise, we are beating the same drums for last 70 years without drawing any considerable results out of it. Every year, since last 70 years, it was only an increment in the gap.
Photo via Visual Hunt
I still wonder, why the government doesn’t make it mandatory for all ministers and government officials to admit their kids only in government schools. That itself would have been able to improve it. New Education Policy, as per a statement from Satya Pal Singh, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, indicates that the new education policy is in its final stages. Most probably, it would be out in December. In act, it is all about correcting the course of education mechanism in the country that is completely under the influence of colonial mindset. The most important task before the country in this regard is to de-colonise the Indian mind to refresh the minds. It will help in bringing back our rich legacy of Indian culture and heritage. Let us revive back a respectful Guru-Shishya Prampara back to its roots and set it free from Colonial mindset.
New Education Policy To Launch In December
For all these years, unfortunately, our academicians and education system creators have been following British and Western scholars blindly without even realizing that even if the system matches our culture and value or not. At the same time, everybody has been criticising Indian culture and values. In fact, as the minister states, it will be India’s first education policy evolving after a deep scrutiny and brainstorming among the education thinktank of India. The prime goal of this new education policy is to create the quality of education right from the beginning of education of a child. If primary level evolves to a maturity level, the higher education will become more meaninfgul and fruitful. Affordability is another concern for which the government is thinking separately. Basically, it is imbibing skill during the education journey itself thus providing an industry a perfect candidate matching their requirements.
It is unfortunate that accessibility to higher education in India is too low. It is only around 25%. On the other hand, in USA it is 86% while in Germany, 80%. And in China it is 60%. So there are two important tasks for the government. Firstly, enhancing the standards of higher education to world level. Secondly, making higher education available to poorest and remotest of the children with the same level of quality of education. Dr. Singh rightly says, “To prevent the exodus of students to foreign countries seeking education, the higher education institutions should be developed to the standard of Centres of International Excellence. Higher education is very expensive, it has to be made more affordable to all sections in the society.”
Basically, drafting a new education policy is a tough task keeping in mind so many barriers in the way of it. But tougher is to change the mindset of educators.
