“Shiksha Parmo Dharma” is a saying ingrained in the Hindu and Buddhist religions. It literally means that Education is the foremost reality and duty. The growth and development of any nation depends on its youth. I would take a step further and say that it is the “educated youth” that takes its country forward on the path of progress. With diverse religions, customs, traditions, languages, and cultures, India is one of the most “complicated” countries in the world. On the on hand, we have a burgeoning “tech savvy” workforce which has earned respect throughout the world and made a global mark, on the other hand, we still have a significant population that struggles to interpret simple text to carry on their day to day life.
I firmly believe that the root of our country’s problems lie in our current educational framework. We need a revamp of our educational system. Although we have increased our literacy levels to 75%, it is still disproportionate when it comes to the female literacy rates which stands at around 66%. The challenge does not resides only with our “literate populace”, it also unfolds itself in how our educated youth compare viz-a-viz to the rest of the world, especially the advanced countries. Here are my two cents on how we can re-invent our educational institutes to create a competitive workforce.
I vividly remember that when I was doing my masters degree from my alma mater back in 2003-2006, we had a subject called “Emerging trends in Information technology”. Ironical to its name, the subject was (at that time) updated in 1996 while it was being taught in 2003. In order to “march with the world shoulder to shoulder”, one of the first things we need to do is to make our syllabus relevant and contemporary. And it is not only one university that had an “outdated” course. This problem is pan India, especially in the rural parts of the country.
Educators and teachers form the backbone of any educational system. They are mentors and act as architects of the future of the country’s youth. It is our educators who ignite the fire in the hearts of their students and lay the foundation of inquisitiveness. Considering the crucial role that they play in the development and nurturing of the “national talent” , it is pivotal for them to be on top of their specialized subjects. Unless educators are updated in their fields, they can never impart “quality” education to their students. Albeit there are many programs initiated by the government, both at the central level and the state level to upgrade the knowledge of these educationists, a lot more needs to be done, especially in the rural areas of the country.
The purpose of any educational institute should be to foster original ideas among its disciples. There should be focus on imbibing creativity rather than promoting “rote learning”. The origination of creative ideas and hands on learning should be championed in the schools. Only when students develop a “creative mindset” can they solve real world problems. Another aspect is to incorporate entrepreneurship and a “start up mentality ” into the curriculum. Indian administration is already promoting innovation through national programs like “Make in India” initiatives. There is already a push towards “Atmanirbhar Bharat” or a self-reliant India. Innovation should be made an integral part of our universities. Our syllabi should embody and integrate the same principles and align itself with the national goals.
There is a famous proverb that says that “if you teach a man, you teach a person, but if you teach a woman, you teach the whole family.” I do agree that India has made strides in eliminating illiteracy but we still face some serious challenges, especially at the rural level and when it comes to educating the Indian women. Same applies to our minorities, especially Muslims who still are largely living in destitution. In order to free the underprivileged sections of our society from the shackles of poverty and illiteracy, we need to bring education at their doorsteps. Inclusiveness is the key here. We need to reduce the “educational disparity” among our demographics. Unless we formulate an inclusive approach towards making India a highly “literate nation”, we can never achieve our goal of becoming a fully developed country.
Having a literate population also has immense societal benefits. I strongly believe that a well aware and an educated person is less likely to be involved in anti national activities. Education makes a person sophisticated and career conscious. It “grooms” the mind of an individual and creates an appreciation towards other cultures, and religions. Our schools and educational institutes should stress more on national harmony.
It is only literacy that can alleviate indigence and create a competent workforce and contribute towards nation building.
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