Dilution of education system in India

The increasing number of seats and decreasing the course load is leading to the dilution of education in India

Introduction
Over the years, several changes have been made to the system of education in India. In the past, the government has brought about several polices to ensure increased literacy among all its citizens. Initiatives like the Right To Education (RTE), mid-day meal scheme, free education for girls, etc. have attempted to work on the concern of education.

Education assessment system

It is noteworthy that the number of private schools and boards are going up. Even in residential areas, there are several private schools that are established. Earlier, the 10th grade board exams were an essential part of every student’s life. It marked a coming of age, and heralded several changes, such as specialization in a particular branch of studies, end of school life for some, etc.

In 2011, the CBSE board made the decision to abolish the 10th board exams, instead choosing to hold a Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE). The CCE provided for a year long evaluation of the student’s academic progress, taking into account internal exams, tests, assignments and projects.

While the CCE was established to reduce the burden of exams and stress on the students, it might not have been a good move. Once a student completes school, for higher studies both in India and abroad, a student has to face several competitive exams. The stress and pressure here is much higher, as the competition is very stiff. Therefore, it is essential to prepare a student for such challenges by giving them practice of exams.

With the CCE program, the course load is also decreased, as the student need not study the entire portions for the final exams. This can bring about a laid-back attitude and a lack of seriousness in the student. The flaw in the education system cannot be corrected by removing the board exams. In spite of this change, the thrust is still on earning high marks. The attitude has to be changed to focusing on learning instead.

The problem aggravates when Indian students go to foreign universities to pursue education. They are not sufficiently equipped to deal with the challenges there, and need to work extra hard to catch up with their peers.

Conclusion

The education system in India has not changed much since the time of Macaulay, who introduced an India-specific system to suit the British needs. We have to rethink the present curriculum, and bring about a gradual change from the roots. For this purpose, we (the government) need to employ a group of experienced educationists. We must make sure that the change will equip youngsters to face educational challenges. It should also encourage the spirit of curiosity.