Wednesday, January 2, 2013

what ails India's education system?

hey everyone!
Here's my article dated 26/dec/12 as published in The new Indian express, though that's bit edited, here's the original.
P.S: Hope you have an extraordinary new year with new endeavors, and a lot of happiness!
so, the world didn't end after all! :)
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India's is quite known for it's education system all over the world but the problem is only that most of this 'good' quality education is provided in private schools, mostly in urban cities, and even these schools can do with some reforms. again education is not only at school but actually begins at home. So everywhere, in homes and schools there are some things that, if kept in mind, can secure a brighter future for India's youth, your children:
1.Break the tradition of rote learning. Practical experiments cannot be learnt through lab manuals, a language cannot be learnt through mugging it's rules, and moral science cannot be learnt by scoring full marks in it's exam. We have to break the traditional way of theoretical, textual learning and replace it with a more practical, manner of getting educated. To make students relate better to their subjects, do more activities, inculcate more projects and real life applications, most importantly in government schools.
2.people associate quality of education with the amount of things students learn before the graduate from school. what people fail to understand is that, it is not the amount the students learn that matters, but how well the student understands every topic. even if only a few, but important, topics are covered, the schools have to make sure that the message of the topic clearly gets through. real literacy can only be brought about with more realistic ways of teaching.
3. marks are given too much priority by parents. students these days, are seen learning, not for what they will gain from it to prepare for life, but to score more marks to keep in pace with their parents' expectations. parents should start encouraging the child, in not just the field related to marks and exams but in more important fields like social relationships, leadership, practical and communication skills.
4. many want their children to study well so that they can secure a wealthy future. but health is wealth. India has increasing obesity rates mainly because of the children spending too much time in front of the T.V or the textbook, which is not good for the overall development of the child. parents and teachers must realize the importance of an active healthy life, and start inculcating exercise and healthy eating habits in their children right from a young age. remember parents, this will also ensure your child's future happiness, because he will be happy, both with his money and with his body.
5. inculcate leadership. every person has an innate leader in them and that leader is capable of achieving great things. Encourage the child not only in what you want him to progress at. Instead, support the child's natural talents and help launch what he already has a knack for. also help every child realize his unique potential. don't demotivate.
6. don't expect too much. branding a child a guaranteed IITian the moment he is born just because you want him to be one won’t help. every child has his own inclinations and abilities, and every child cannot be the top ranker. besides, there are other fields that exist in the world apart from studies, like music, dance, writing, designing, sports etc. accept your child for who he is.
7. the government schools must improve their administration. We usually find that, in private schools, the teaching is more efficient. this is not because the teachers here get more salary. on the contrary, these teachers are most effective because they are constantly scrutinized by the private administration. however, in government schools, salary, regular work, holidays every other day, good pensions and everything is guaranteed. also, corruption is eating up about half the resources which were meant to benefit the kids. 

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