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.