The Indian education system has its own share of issues and challenges that need to be addressed to ensure a better and more comprehensive education for the children, who are the future of the nation. There have been many changes in the Indian education system over the years but still, there are many loopholes and problems that need to be addressed.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the issues and challenges with the Indian education system and discuss a few countermeasures to address these challenges. Several initiatives launched by the government to improve student education across the country are also discussed.
About the Indian Education system
One major change can be seen in the educational system in India from post-British rule till date. Initially, children were educated in Gurukulas which were later changed to introduce modern education system.
After India gained independence, the Constitution enshrined six fundamental rights, one of which was the right to education. It allowed free education for every child between the ages of 6 and 14 years.
The education system is basically divided into pre-primary, primary, primary and secondary education, followed by secondary education.
Current Issues in Education in India
Discussed below are the current issues with the Education system in India:
- Expenditure on education; More funds should be allocated for the development of the educational system in India. Many practical steps have been taken in this direction in the last few years and if this continues, India will soon be able to overcome the present challenges.
- Gross enrolment pattern as followed by the UN must also be adapted by India.
- Capacity utilization; Nowadays, the world needs creative minds and the government should encourage schools to harness their potential to grow students and not leave their ideas unheard.
- Infrastructure facilities; Good facilities must be provided, especially in government schools. With the current focus of the government on digital education, measures need to be taken to provide all necessary facilities in government schools and in rural areas.
- PPP model; Well-designed PPPs can serve as models of innovation for the school system in India. Therefore, the public-private partnership (PPP) model should be considered.
- Student-teacher ratio; The number of students seeking quality education is high compared to the availability of teachers and teachers. Therefore, qualified teachers should be recruited to impart knowledge to the nation in future.
- Accreditation & branding; quality standards.
- Students studying abroad; Due to these issues in the Indian education system, many students choose to study abroad. They should be dealt with by the concerned authorities and students should also choose to live, study in India and empower the country through their knowledge.
Solutions to these problems
There are a few simple solutions which can help in overcoming the problems with the India Education System:
- Innovations required; India is moving towards digital education. This will help sprout fresh ideas among students and the youth of the country. This will change the educational system of India and the authorities and the government should encourage and nurture young minds to focus on holistic development rather than just learning through books.
- Quality of Education; There are significant differences in the quality of education in rural and urban areas of the country. Steps must be taken to organize quality education all over India so that everyone has equal and fair opportunities for knowledge and development.
- Making education affordable; There are some government schools and educational institutions which are expensive but lacking in terms of services and quality. On the other hand, there are private educational institutions which require high fees and have good facilities and equipment for learning. This gap must be addressed and the government must make education affordable and accessible to all.
Schemes & Campaigns to Boost Education System in India
Given below is a list of Government schemes introduced to enhance the education system in India:
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan; It was established in 2001 with the aim of promoting ‘education for all’, strengthening the schools’ existing infrastructure and building new schools.
- National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level; The Government of India has a focused role, to reach out to “Hard to reach” girls, especially those out of school.
- Mid Day Meal Scheme; It is one meal that is provided to all children enrolled in government schools, government-aided schools, local body schools, special training centres (STC), madrasas and maktabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan; It is a special program aimed at improving secondary education and increasing enrollment by providing secondary schools at reasonable distances from each household.
- Scheme for Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutes; The education of minorities shall be facilitated by developing and strengthening the school system in minority institutions to extend quality education to children from minority communities.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao; The scheme to promote girl child education in IndiaUseful Everyday Blogs For Students India