Date : 22/12/2023

Relevance: GS Paper 2 – Issues Related to Development – Education

Keywords: Economic Survey 2022-23, Edutech Startups, ASER Report, Civil Society

Context-

Education stands as the linchpin of societal advancement, wielding the power to shape nations by equipping individuals with knowledge and skills. In India, the educational system grapples with multifaceted challenges, ranging from political interference to the pervasive rise of a tuition culture.

The Electoral Bargain and Immediate Needs:

During election cycles, the economically disadvantaged in India leverage their voting power to demand immediate solutions to pressing issues. The ensuing fervor for freebies, subsidies, and guarantees spotlights a deeper issue – the lack of sustained attention to fundamental entitlements such as income security, employment opportunities, and access to quality education and healthcare. The populace's discernment of the government's inclination towards short-term, populist measures over substantive and lasting improvements is evident.

Education Sector Crisis:

• The state of India's education sector is precarious, marked by a dangerous amalgamation of reckless commercialization and politicization. A meticulous, step-by-step strategy and a national consensus are deemed imperative to rebuild the sector. Recent events underscore the limitations of an overreliance on technology, with edutech start-ups succumbing to pitfalls like greed, compromising the very essence of education.
• While acknowledging technology's potential, caution is urged against viewing it as a panacea for deeply ingrained issues in the education system. The critique extends to a market-driven approach prioritizing technology over substantive investments in quality education. The burgeoning tuition industry, currently valued at over Rs 58 billion, serves as a stark testament to systemic failures exacerbated by governmental policies that inadvertently devalue high school examinations.
• Parental Preference for Tuition Centers: A disconcerting trend emerges as parents increasingly favor tuition centers over traditional schools. The toll on mental health and the rise in stress-induced suicides, consequences of the pressure and humiliation rampant in these unregulated centers, are poignantly highlighted. The government's failure to monitor and uplift the quality of teaching further contributes to the proliferation of tuition centers and the concerning reliance on apps.
• Socioeconomic Divide and Quality Disparities: The existing education system inadvertently widens the gap between the "well-educated" hailing from affluent families and the "less educated" from more modest backgrounds. Across categories, the quality of teaching is alarmingly subpar, fueling the mushrooming of tuition centers. References to the ASER Report 2023 reveal disturbing statistics regarding students' proficiency levels in fundamental skills.
• Inadequate Infrastructure in Schools
  • According to UDISE (2019-20), only 12% of schools have internet facilities, and 30% have computers.
  • 42% lack furniture, 23% lack electricity, 22% lack ramps for the disabled, and 15% lack WASH facilities.
• High Dropout Rate
  • Dropout rates are high in primary and secondary levels.
  • NFHS-5 reports 21.4% of girls and 35.7% of boys drop out due to disinterest in studies.
• Brain Drain
  • Intense competition for top institutes leads many students to pursue education abroad.
  • Quantitative expansion exists, but qualitative aspects lag behind.
• Mass Illiteracy
  • Despite efforts, around 25% of Indians remain illiterate, leading to social and digital exclusion.
• Neglect of Indian Languages
  • Indian languages are underdeveloped; English dominates science subjects, creating unequal opportunities.
  • Standard publications in Indian languages are lacking.
• Lack of Technical and Vocational Education
  • Generalistic education system leads to a lack of technical and vocational education.
  • This contributes to a rising number of educated unemployed individuals.
• Unaffordability
  • Meager incomes in rural areas prioritize work over education.
  • Lack of awareness and financial stability hinders enrollment, especially in higher education.
• Gender Inequality
  • Despite efforts, gender inequality persists, driven by poverty and cultural practices like female infanticide and early marriage.
• Lack of Sanitation
  • Sanitation issues in schools across the country hinder educational progress.

Comprehensive Solutions for Educational Revitalization:

1. Social Participation and Volunteerism:
   • Engage senior citizens, civil society, and volunteers to contribute to the educational ecosystem.
   • Leverage the collective wisdom and experience of society to bring fresh perspectives into the teaching and learning process.
2. Conditional Incentives for Parental Involvement:
   • Tie cash doles to women to the academic performance of their children, fostering a direct link between parental engagement and financial benefits.
   • Encourage parental involvement as a cornerstone for a child's educational journey.
3. Teacher Accountability and Reduced Governmental Interference:
   • Make teachers accountable for results, emphasizing the role of educators in shaping the future.
   • Minimize governmental interference to allow educational institutions the flexibility to innovate and adapt to evolving needs.
4. Inclusive Budget Allocations:

   Despite the critical state of education in India, the nation allocates a meager 2.61% of GDP to this fundamental sector. References to global standards advocate for countries to dedicate at least 6% of their GDP to education.

• Double the education budget, recognizing that sustained growth and development hinge on a well-educated populace.
• Allocate resources imaginatively, ensuring that increased budgets translate into tangible improvements in infrastructure, teacher training, and educational resources.

Experiential Learning Approach

• India's participation in COP-28 was marked by distinctive stances on crucial declarations.
• While the UAE declaration on climate and health, signed by 123 countries committing $1 billion to address climate-health issues, gained momentum, India opted not to sign.
• The rationale was rooted in the potential impact on healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the health sector could compromise essential healthcare requirements.

Implementation of National Education Policy (NEP)

• Shift from 10+2 to a 5+3+3+4 system.
• Bring pre-school age group formally into the education setup.

Education-Employment Corridor

• Integrate vocational learning with mainstream education.
• Provide mentorship to guide students toward suitable career paths.

Reducing the Language Barrier

• Give equal importance to Indian languages alongside English.
• Establish special publication agencies for translation.

Learning from the Past to the Future

• Draw inspiration from the holistic Gurukul system.
• Focus on values like self-reliance, empathy, creativity, and integrity.
• Implement systems of assessment that evaluate practical knowledge application.

Conclusion

In summation, the imperative of prioritizing education in India is underscored, urging both political attention and a substantial increase in fiscal resources. The inadequacy of current spending, stagnating at 3% of GDP over the past two decades, is highlighted. Real growth, development, and global leadership hinge upon a commitment to doubling the budget and a resounding collective demand for an imaginative and courageous approach to education. Until these conditions intersect, India risks perpetuating the illusion of "all is well" while grappling with a profound and systemic educational crisis.

Source- Indian Express