Education Reforms

The Indian education system is going through a phase of big time renovation and a much needed one, so to say. However, one closer look beyond superficial hoo-ha of all the mega changes and one realises that beneath we still remain grossly misguided, like ever before.

More than six decades after throwing off the yoke of British rule, one would think that education wouldn’t be one of the issues the country would still be grappling with. But that’s the sad truth. And that is simply because political will has always fallen short when it comes to ushering in drastic reforms to weed out the ills that the Indian education system has suffered from. Consider this: every third illiterate person on this earth is an Indian and India ranks 147th from among 170 countries in terms of literacy. There is more.

Here is a reformist minister who is all ‘student-friendly’. With his extensive reforms with in the education sector Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has proved himself to be a true realistic friend to the student community. He prefers to walk along with them, at a pace that is neither too fast nor too slow, with a hand round their shoulders. Sibal did not hide his happiness while interacting with senior editors at the Hindustan Times office on Tuesday.

Inclined to give the legal education in the nation a boost, the government has constituted a twelve member committee, to give its suggestions for the same. The committee is expected to suggest various measures through which not only the syllabus is updated but, also the overall grooming of the students is taken care of.

The soon to be announced, revised grading system for Class X, under the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), is receiving many speculations from all concerned. Wondering as to how the system will shape up to be a reliable successor to the board exams, all eyes are on HRD Minister Kapil Sibal now.

While much is being touted about the higher education in the country, the scene at the primary and higher secondary education level remains dismal as ever. We celebrate what we have achieved in the course of our progression as a nation. But we have no time to ponder over what we could have achieved. 

Even as top brass of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is cooling heals in jail, the apex Central regulatory agency seems to be in for a major admission scam. Many more skeletons are expected to come out of the closet of the AICTE as the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal, is determined to stem the rot in the deemed universities. 

The call from a party which believes in cultural nationalism for an education system shorn of communalism is an irony which does not miss out on its intent. The pious statement issued by the BJP on Wednesday reads: “Keep communalism and politics out of education.” 

Economic Survey envisages sweeping reforms in the education sector. If its recommendations are implemented, the Survey will prove a harbinger of unprecedented education reforms in the country.