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Author – N K Ravishankara

Educational reforms in India since independence – Flaws & suggestions

Education has been considered as one of the very important dominion in our national life.
Education holds the important key for development and progress in every aspects of our
existence, which starts from an integrated and synergic viewpoint, the system of education
constitute as the foundation of the legal, civic, administrative and also developmental domains of
future unfolding India.

Though several debates have undergone on this issue in the recent past, but the discussion still
prevails on this issue which is in motion since the era of pre-independence days. It was a know
fact that the educational system which was devised in the erstwhile alien rulers was not
target at the national goals and aspirations, in the later stage several educational leaders
learnt the truth the deleterious effects the erstwhile educational systems had on the young
minds, as such the movement has been started with the initial efforts to establish few
nationalist educational institutions. In this approach several nationalist schools and also
colleges were established to impart education in a nationalist content and its approach, as
they thought this type of education will infuse a spirit of patriotism and also a national
outlook which one cannot forget.

To eradicate such prevailing systems in the pre-independence era in India, many

committees and several commissions were brought up to propose recommendations to
make a change in the educational system, few of them in the year 1948-49 it was the
Radhakrishnan Commission on University education, in the year 1952-53 Laxmanaswamy
Mudaliyar Committee on secondary education and later in the year 1964-66 it was the
Kothari commission on education, though there are several these three can be looked as an
important.

Failure of Implementation

As the voluminous material could not withstand which were available in the form of suggestions
and recommendations which were flown from the committees and commissions, the reform on
education is still in an elusive mood and we have not seen any significant changes or break
through has been achieved in bringing about changes in the fundamentals of the system which
was thought as to make an effective instrument of national reconstruction. Hence the earlier
existing system continued to rule made by the colonial rulers with little minor alterations which
were more concerned about the exterior details. As this resulted in an direction less drift which is
prevailing in the present system today, as one can see the present educational system an
uninspiring and disconcerting.

The present crisis in education is a crisis in implementing the same essentially. As in our country
no dearth of ideas or suggestions in bringing out changes in educational systems, but the several
ideas are lacking in putting them in to action.

The educational system which we have now lacks the goal of universal which requires
constitutional directive which has become a distant dream, the gains we made in terms of
enrolment will be set to nil by the drop out high incidence. Hence the ultimate result it brought as
the number of illiterates in the country continues to remain. The extreme inadequacy of
infrastructure facilities, as few reports on education have shown the pathetic condition of many
of the schools in the country, from which it is evident that the resources available were not
enough as in the present scenario it is highly difficult to provide even the basic or minimum
facilities to such schools, as the allocation made for education still remains the below
recommended average of 6% or less of the GDP.

A committee formed few years back have reported that the main aim of around quarter strength
of the total students were opting for vocational system of education, though the
recommendations were accepted as an policy decision, the implementation granted additional 5
years term but till date it fails to take off. As one can observe the strengthening of the higher
education is rather a distantly accomplished, additionally the fast deterioration in the standard of
education in the university level of education, as our universities by and large never functioned
as centers of excellence instead they have widened the horizons of knowledge, failed to provide
intellectual leadership which were desired in the initial stages. As it is time now to make an
earnest effort to identify the reasons for failure in what could have been achieved by declaring
such objectives and remove any obstacles. Sufficient care has to be taken in future to see that
such mistakes not to be repeated, the failures must become guidelines for the sake of the future if
such reforms to become a reality.

The basic weakness in the present system is it lacks to reflect the national ethos, national spirit
which were marked as an important aspect, inculcating the national feeling and which helps the
students to develop a national vision is another aspect of educational, one must have the
knowledge of history, tradition and its values, one must understand the basic of our national
unity and our culture, but not now lot of inputs required to imbibe a sense of national pride,
which is required to be included in the present curriculum.

Further the education is to be linked to socio-economic and for social needs, the main purpose of
education should not become to create just human robots or making a skilled manpower towards
the global market, educational levels should be changed and it should become an effective
instrument for economic development for a social change. As our country have enormous
resources due poverty could not be exposed, yet to be harnessed whereby we can raise living
conditions of the common man, as we are not able to tune our educational systems to make this
end successful.

The individual and material gains are the main goal and focus of the present educational systems,
these needs to be addressed properly in all levels of education. From the social point of view the
present level of country is marked by dissensions and cleavages, mixed with old and new, which
never be compatible each other to meet the demands of society, the need of the hour is right kind
of education must focus on economic and social needs of the society, education must help to
produce the army of skilled personnel with a sense of social awareness and commitment.

From where it has to start

It has to start from gross root level that is from primary level, have to avoid dropouts, we need to
give this a top priority, which needs a detailed study to know the causes of drop outs should be
made on a long term planning, which needs extending necessary facilities and with right
incentives to the learners and also to the teaching mass.

Moreover a single factor which has to be given more importance in the level primary education
is the level of imparting education it should be in the mother tongue or we can say regional
language, one need to take a firm decision to implement this without delay. Further, the content
of education should be relevant to the necessity for day to day life, that means the curriculum
must be indigenous and within the limits of knowledge of the teacher and the taught. The time
table and academic calendar has to be changed in accordance to the life style and also occupation
of the concerned, which needs a mass awakening program and make them to understand the need
and necessity of literacy and education, learning should be productive and enjoyable, before the
schools need to be equipped with basic infra structure facilities, before teacher needs to be
trained in this level for imparting education in the right path like issues concerning culture,
writing, reading, arithmetic and other relevant core subjects.

What to be done from secondary education

From this level the strengthening of the vocational stream has to be made by bringing the gap
closer between world of work and world of knowledge. Needs to inculcate the value of respect in
manual work and also in dignity of labor, it should be connected between the local and regional
needs, which can develop an appropriate technology for indigenous development and a change in
the society, a redesigned curriculum which can provide a multi track way to the future vocation
not a uni-track path. Skills like communication, comprehension, logical, creative, management,
information technology must be given top priority over a mere book learning.

Changes required in University and Higher educational levels

Universities are centers of learning and research, it should give an importance in horizon
expansion in knowledge and intellectual leadership must be provided, but today these
universities were a mere examination conducting bodies, to change these attitudes certain
qualities are required they are system of affiliation with gradual dispensing, a fair and true trial
must be given to autonomous colleges, one must make sure these experiments gets a success or
not.

According to an survey we have around 240 universities with 9000 colleges and around 35%-
40% are viable, and remaining of them mostly get a substandard education in most ill-equipped
colleges, one cannot expect such learners capable of meeting the challenges in all the fields, here
such colleges needs improvement of infraqstructure.

A formal community system of education in higher level is feasible here which will provide
horizontal and vertical mobility inside the academic framework, an frequent examination of such
procedures are requirement at the moment.
The information technology the new revolution has to be used extensively as this science has
made an impact effect in the field of education, has to used at all levels, it will open up a new
world of opportunities for both women and young men but a serious look at the damage caused
to values and identity must also be noticed, which is a matter of serious consideration. But as per
the studies the negative effects of the recent invasion of these technologies is the relegation of
humanities and basic sciences to take a back foot, from the original research in various spheres
of knowledge, as both the sciences have an significant importance, the need of the hour is to
promote and protect the importance of these qualities in a meaningful path.

Viable arguments

As the level of higher education is very crucial for any developmental process, it needs to be
strengthened, the governing authorities has to play a major role in strengthening and supporting
the higher education system, the present argument is that the higher level of education is getting
a major share at the cost of primary level of education, though it have a little justification but one
should not forget the both have its own importance, primary level of education should get its due
attention in all aspects but in turn if higher level of education is neglected then it could become a
disastrous.

Education a commercial aspect

The private organizations will have to play a very important role in the area of education, leaving
the vacuum open in the name privatization it could become a self defeating proposition, such
processes may not only denude education with an noble value and all ideals associated to it,
further it will widen the gap of social disparity also, hence commercialization of education must
be curbed in the interest of the education at large.

Education and its finance

In expenditures one incurs on education can be an investment for the future, the targets could not
be achieved with sufficient funds, hence it needs available funds, therefore a determined and
maximum efforts has to be made if one needs to achieve the target of 6% of the GDP on
education, it needs the cop-operation of non governments also as it has to play a supporting role
in this behalf, but the major chunk is in the hands of the governing authorities.

Change in examination system

It needs a thorough and detailed revision to make the present examination an comprehensive
system with evaluation abilities and also achievements of the students, this process must cease to
be a mechanical exercise and also an fault finding process. The training of teachers from gross
root to higher levels should be seriously considered for a meaningful reformation, it is also
important teacher must be equipped to play an important role in the implementation of an
meaningful educational system.

Independent body to govern education

It is absolutely necessary to formulate an independent or autonomous body like Judiciary or

election commission etc., as one can expect a required guidance from such bodies, which will co-
ordinate and also monitor the educational policies implementation, as this demand is made by
certain educational expert way back, as such bodies will become responsible in assessing the
overall performance of educational institutions in all levels, as it is necessary to create such
agencies or bodies is the need of the hour.