New Education System
During the British period,
education was a tool in the hands of the rulers. The latter used it to further
their own vested interest. Very little attention was given to science subjects
or vocational training.
During the four decades of
independence, several Education Commissions have been established and new
experiments have been made in the field of education. But even then, on the
whole, for lack of funds and for political and several other reasons, this
field has remained neglected and lop-sided. Moreover, demands of different
patterns in different regions, further accentuated the crises.
Finally, "the Challenge of
Education" was accepted and 10+2+3 system of education has at last emerged
as the latest formula on education. What is the meaning of this new pattern? It
means that at the first stage, the student will have 10 years schooling. During
this period, he will acquire general education which will be a blend of art,
science and other disciplines. After this period. the student will spend 2
years in a school or college. During this period, he will study science or arts
subjects or get vocational training, according to his choice or aptitude. After
completion of this course, the student may opt to join some institution (e.g. a
medical or engineering college) for getting specialised training or he may join
some vocational profession. Those students who are really brilliant or have an
aptitude for higher studies, alone shall join an institution of higher studies
to get degree. The examination upto the +2 stage shall be conducted by the
Senior Secondary Board, but at the +3 stage, it will be conducted by the
university. Thus for the degree, the student will spend three years in a
college.
Now, what is the significance or
superiority of the new system over the old system? In the new system, the
student will have to spend one year more to get the degree. It means that he
will be having more maturity when he comes out of the portals of an educational
institution. Also, he will have got more varied as well as specialized
education. The purpose is to raise the general level of education to reach the
international level. Thus an average Indian student, at least from the
brilliant ones' stock, will be more prepared to face the world and to enter the
21st century with adequate knowledge and confidence to face the coming
challenges in this highly competitive world. Also efforts have been made to
devise the syllabi in this new pattern in such a way as to discourage cramming
or overwhelming dependence on mere memory. The one year extra spent at the
university will also mitigate the problem of unemployment to some extent at
least. As all the states have accepted the new system, there will be a kind of
uniformity throughout the country with minor local variations. This will facilitate
the students migrating from one state/university to the other and also enable
regional interaction more smoothly.
The new system is still at the
initial stage of implementation and its impact will be realized only after a
few years. But, unfortunately, there still persists the mushroom existence of
teaching shops and fake universities, as even admitted by the University Grants
Commission. Some deterrent action must be taken against the defaulters. The
teachers. the taught and all concerned must work sincerely and strenuously for
the new system to make it a real success.
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