Indian Education System
Source: Indian Express
GS II: Issues relating to the development and management of social sector/services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Overview
- News in Brief
- Key Issues in the Indian Education System
- Constitutional Provisions Committees
Why in the News?
The NEET paper leaks and the surrounding controversies raised concerns about the integrity of the examination system.
News in Brief
- In the Indian Express article, the author Manish Sabharwal discusses the issue of paper leaks and the need for reform in the Indian Education System.
Key Issues in the Indian Education System
- Most of the Government school students fail at the most significant vocational skills: reading, writing, arithmetic and relationships, which are the most basic in learning.
- The demand and supply gap – more than 20 lakh students compete for a limited number of MBBS seats, which creates high pressure on students.
- The exam-centric system with scarcity of opportunities makes dominance of coaching factories, pressure on students and families, leading to paper leaks and malpractice.
- Many institutions fail to provide employability skills for the youth.
- This leads to an increase in unemployment (The skill mismatch).
Solution:
- Upgrade the outdated regulations in expanding schools, colleges and universities.
- Encourage Educational Entrepreneurship by reducing regulatory barriers.
- Expand supply through deregulation ( removing the requirement of state government NOC for Central Board Recognition).
- Empower Education technocrats like principals and deans to establish institutions.
- Needs to establish more schools and colleges.
- An increase in institutions and the availability of seats provides more opportunities for students.
Constitutional Provisions Committees
- Article 21-A – Free and compulsory Education for children aged 6 to 12.
- Article 45 – Directs the State to provide early childhood care and education for children below six years of age.
- Article 51-A (k) – Fundamental Duty of parents or guardians to provide educational opportunities to children aged 6 to 12.
- Article 29 & 30 – Protects the rights of minorities to establish educational institutions and ensures no citizen is denied admission in state-aided institutions based on race, caste, religion and language.
- Article 46 – Directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of marginalised groups.
Related Policies:
- National Educational Policy (NEP) 2020 – makes Education more flexible, multidisciplinary and holistic, shifting away from rigid and rote learning academic systems.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality Education.
Committee Recommendations
1. The Radhakrishnan Commission of 1948:
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- The first major educational body appointed by the post-independence Government of India.
- Chaired by Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
- Also known as the University Education Commission.
Recommendations:
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- Creation of the University Grants Commission
- Proposed 12-year pre-university schooling structure.
- Promoted Women’s Education and established rural universities.
- Recommended placing University Education in the Concurrent List of the Indian Constitution.
- Highlighted reforming memorisation-based exams.
2. The Kothari Committee of 1968:
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- An ad-hoc body set by the Government of India to formulate the National Education Policy.
- Chaired by UGC Chairman Dr. D.S. Kothari.
- Also known as the National Education Commission.
Recommendations:
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- Free and compulsory Education up to 14 years of age.
- Recommended “Three Language Formula” – Mother tongue, Regional language and foreign language (English).
- Emphasised the welfare of Teachers.
- Provide equal educational opportunities to all children regardless of socio-economic background.
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