INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM WHETHER FULFILLS THE GOAL OF EDUCATION
With more than 70% literacy rate, India lags much behind many developed and developing economies in terms of adult literacy as the world average adult literacy rate is 84%. India currently has the largest illiterate population of any nation on Earth. Despite Government programmes, India’s literacy rate increased only sluggishly, and a 1990 study estimated that it would take until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy .The 2001 census however, indicated a 1991-2001 decadal literacy growth of 12.63%, which is the fastest-ever on record. The system of education in India is just to make the population capable to read and write but not to make them intelligent enough to distinguish between right and wrong. This is not true goal of education.
Education is an essential tool for any society to achieve knowledge and to learn how to lead a successful and happy life. The role of education is definitely not limited to giving and grasping knowledge and theories. Education provides exercises and helps the human mind develop gradually.
The true goal of education transcends much beyond just awarding degree and certificates to the kids. Education aims to develop the intellect of the learners. Education is the most valuable asset that an individual can possess. The realization of formal education and its importance has reached the core of the society. However, the fact still remains that formal education has not reached many backward and poverty ridden areas of the society. Education not just a tool to earn money to make the ends, it is the way to liberate the mind and soul of a person. It seeks to free the human being from parochial mindset. The real goal of a true education system is a rational mind which works towards building an intellectual society. India is home to brilliant minds with immense potential. However, our education system has not been able to produce many intellectuals.
Education takes place both at home and in the educational institutions. Parents prepare their children at an early age to learn certain habits that help them rely on themselves. Eating on one’s own requires various exercise and strong willingness to be independent. Children learn from their parents how to do things and this is to be continued in the educational institution later on. Therefore, education has to be both about the curriculum and daily life. Consequently the role of educators whether teachers or parents, must be further stressed by the ministry of education as well as by media to sensitize society to the true role of education. Not only the educational programme reforms have to be focused on but also the dual role of educators. Children need to be surrounded by grown-ups who teach them how to live, not just how to succeed in exams.
The present education system tends to promote competition among the pupils instead of developing their aptitude. It is highly focused towards scoring marks in examination rather than building concept. Obtaining a degree does not always make the person educated or civilized. Education has to make the person more civilized and bring about the necessary changes in his/her attitude. A person who is civilized can make better judgments of good and the bad and can take the right decisions. Therefore, the right kind of education and the realization of its goals are absolutely necessary in bringing about the necessary changes in a person.
All in all, education as improvement of man and education as perfection of techniques are both necessary and complementary, but the proper places of each must neither be confused nor exchanged. The former is the end whereas, the latter, the means. Having examined the end of education, a few specific points regarding the aims of education should be kept in mind.
The first is education for survival, or for making a living. Most people have to work in order to make a living. The ability and skill one acquires in high school and college enable one to make more respectable and decent living. The second point is education for knowledge and character. The fervent desire for learning and for improving oneself is a unique human trait. The third point is a corollary of the second and is the most significant of all-namely, for contribution, for the service of one’s community, one’s country, and even for the entire world. The ultimate goal of education is the discovery of the meaning of life and the fulfillment of life for all mankind’s as well as for oneself. The supreme end of education is to promote peace on Earth and good will to man. The quest of education is knowledge, humility, wisdom and courage, but let it is noted too that knowledge is not given but earned and character is not granted but cultivated.