The education system hasn’t been restructured for the past four decades in India. Living in a digital world, where the world’s knowledge is strung around the individual, we still read the same paper books with the same content that my father’s generation did, in the late 1980’s. Why do we need to know every little detail in biology or geography, when we have other goals to accomplish? Why don’t schools put more emphasis on subjects like art, drama, public speaking, music and sports? Why do we still have to give a board exam to choose our future careers and define our rote learning capacity?
The simple answer is that the education system doesn’t give importance to its clients. A 15-year-old child must decide what he or she is willing to do when 30 years of age, and it is very early to make that decision. Children haven’t really explored subjects other than science, mathematics, languages and social studies. They haven’t been taught subjects like cooking, drama, political science and more. These are subjects that help enhance the creativity and imagination of a child. It helps them grow with the right attitude. Our current education system focuses on a goal being achieved, a test being passed and getting the ‘right’ answers. How can we improve the education system in India?
A shift in our educational philosophy needs to take place and we need to establish a few necessities for students to know in each subject area, at each grade level. Next, we must create a culture of high expectations with a value on learning and collaboration, to replace mindless competition. Finally, we must make learning relevant. We must value our knowledge and learning rather than our academic grades. Anyone can produce good grades.
- The reader is a student of a Dubai school
