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Need for Educational Reforms

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June 27, 2017

Why in news?

PEW Research Centre in New York, a think-tank focusing on public issues released a research study with findings of a comparison of schooling standards in over 90 countries.

What does the study highlight?

  • The study uses parameters prescribed by the UNESCO for assessing schooling standards, and number of years of schooling as the proxy for education accomplishment.
  • It does not take into account the quality of education on offer.
  • It focuses on “educational attainment” among the major religions of the world.
  • It concludes that Hindus have the “lowest” level of “educational attainment” in the world.
  • The “Christian” average is 9.3 years of schooling and “Buddhists”have 7.9 years.
  • Muslims and Hindus of the world undergo 5.6 years of schooling against the global average of 7.7 years.
  • It also points out that the Indian school educational system is at the bottom of the international league, along with Sub-Saharan Africa.

What similar studies highlights?

  • PISA is the measurement standard adopted in Europe and utilised in a large number of countries.
  • It also studied Indian school quality in two states.
  • India ranked second last among 110 countries beating only Kyrgyzstan.
  • India pulled out of the PISA study, thereafter.
  • The Annual Status of Education Report conducted by Pratham, an Indian NGO, had assessed in 2014 that 75% of all children in Class III, over 50% in Class V and over 25% in Class VIII could not read texts meant for Class II.
  • Reading levels for all children enrolled in government schools in Class V showed a decline between 2010 and 2012.
  • National Survey Sample results in 2015 indicated sharp decline in learning outcomes in mathematics, science and English in the secondary schools.
  • A recent study in Delhi has come out with the finding that only 54% of the city’s children can read something.

Where does the main problem lie?

  • There is ample evidence that the Indian child is as good a learner as any in the world.
  • Indian Americans are among the highly educated communities in the US.
  • It is just sheer lack of basic opportunity that has kept the Indian child at very low education standards.
  • The main problem is the abysmal quality of governance, with politics permeating every aspect of educational administration.
  • Factors other than merit play a significant part in the management of affairs.
  • Proper governance standards, with adequate incentives, and checks and balances, have not been put in place.
  • The focus of the entire structure at the Centre and the states is on the minister, secretary, and the educational regulatory institutions.
  • It is not focussed on the student, teacher, principal and school.
  • The system is not “inclusive” and does not give a second chance to the weaker sections.
  • The fundamentals of teacher management, teacher education and training as well as school governance and management are lacking at every step.
  • The curriculum is rote-oriented and little practical thought has been given to pedagogy at any stage.

 

Source: Indian Express

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