Present Education System, and the Need for Reformation

  •   Sun, Sep 04 2011
  •   J Amal Bosco, Thiruvananthapuram

September 5, 2011

We are in the 21st century. The world which we live in is a knowledge-driven one. Darwin said about the survival of the fittest, and now it has been transformed into survival of the knowledgeable. In order to tackle the problems that emerge in this world we need to be knowledgeable. In modern terms people call it knowledge property. Yes, if you own knowledge and talents you can survive anywhere in the world.

According to Swamy Vivekananda, education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain, which runs riot there undigested all your life. Education for him was the process by which character is formed, strength of mind increased and intellect is sharpened as a result of which one can stand on one’s own feet. But unfortunately our educational system encourages accumulation of information and vomiting them in papers instead of applying them practically.

In addition to that, nowadays we see that a number of teachers are very reluctant to teach and prepare the young generation for the future. They often work for money and for duty's sake they come to school. Once I was in a small village for an exposure programme. There, the headmaster of a primary school told me that the children were not at all studying well and they did not have basic foundation. But he had been working there for three years, so in turn i asked him what he had done in the last three years. Did he take any effort to give them basic education? He was speechless. This is the mistake many do. Every teacher must understand and be aware of his or her service and responsibility. It is in the hands of teachers to bring out the inner ability of every student, through their selfless and dedicated service.

Another threat is the commercialization of education. In north India graduate degrees are sold like vegetable and stationery. You can pass exams by copying and get graduate degrees provided you have enough money to pay. Also, in most of the colleges and schools especially engineering and medical college and English medium schools seats are auctioned in the name of donation. As a result many talented young students, particularly among the poor, who want to achieve are unable to study. To overcome these barriers everybody must understand that education is the only means that will help us to see the future with confidence. Reformation of education may help us to fight back the barriers.

With the growth of science, we have come to know about the functions of left and right brains. The left brain implies discipline and the right insights. Our educational system mostly focusses on the left brain which goes with the logical and the scientific. But the present need is better functioning of the right brain which goes with creativity, and is artistic and visualistic. In order to do this Reflective Pedagogical Paradigm (RPP) method is practiced.

Most of the foreign countries and their institutions follow the method of Reflective Pedagogical Paradigm which is one of the effective methods to educate. It insists on an understanding of the context of what we study through our experiences, through which we get new ideas. The new practical ideas and ways are evaluated and from that we get new experiences. As this process continues we get new, creative ideas and new ways of learning. It helps us to be aware of what the present world expects.

As I conclude I would like to recall the words of Ayn Rand, "The purpose of education is to teach a student how to live his life by developing his mind and equipping him to deal with reality. The training he needs is the theoretical, that is, conceptual. He has to be taught to think, to understand, to integrate and to prove. He has to be taught the essentials of the knowledge discovered in the past and he has to be equipped to acquire further knowledge by his own effort."
J Amal Bosco, Thiruvananthapuram
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Comment on this article

  • Emmanuel, Chennai

    Sat, Dec 07 2013

    Very good Bosco...Good work...Keep writing

  • Alban D Souza, Udyavara Mumbai Doha Qatar

    Tue, Sep 06 2011

    A good article on regarding education system. As you mentioned education become commercialised.More and more institution emerging just to make money. There is lack of dedication. People are more oriented towards money rather than duty and dedication. The teacher also to support the student at elast 50% but the student also should not be negligible and lazy.

    We see in the history the famous scientist had hardly little education but invented scientific theories to the modern world. In this case Swami Vivekananda is right fir educate oneself and get guidance from parents/teachers. Decipline and readiness als requires for the proper education.

  • Jeff Olstad, Merritt, BC, Canada

    Mon, Sep 05 2011

    I wrote a article some years ago you might like: Knowledge is Power

    It has been said that knowledge is Power.

    Knowledge is a book sitting on a shelf, unread.

    When you read the book and extract very kernel of value, combine that with your physical, mental and emotional skills for the pursuit of your goals.

    That is Power.

    The method for taking your raw physical, mental, and emotion talents and molding them into the tools you need to acheve your goals.

    That is Education.

    I haven't sent it around all that much but I believe you could use it.
    Just give me credit, Jeff Olstad

  • John Peter, Ootacamund

    Mon, Sep 05 2011

    congrats Dear Bosco,i hope that the article,presented by you, will surely make the readers think and reflect for a radical change in the course of history.Fantastic-keep writing.

  • williams , chennai

    Mon, Sep 05 2011

    congrats basco keep on writing . i appreciate ur hard work well done .

  • Rayan Lobo, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2011

    Excellent write up Amal... Keep writing...

    Well Done


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