Education system

IIT results are out, the talking matter in the neighborhood of every small town of India.  The parents who were not even graduates are the who's who of those towns now.  Today's paper had almost half of pages running with ads of most most booming  industry in India, which is not even officially classified as industry by Govt of India - coaching institutes. There was a small article in TOI today about this industry. It's difficult to believe but close to 700 faculty members of these institutes in one of the most happening place in India - Kota, are the ones who are illustrated graduates of these institute. A few of them are drawing even seven figure salaries.  Did they study in these institute with this goal in mind? On the other hand, our new HRD minister is planning to add up one AIIMS, IIT  and IIM in each state of the country. She is not even a graduate , perhaps lack of it  would have given her a better background for some out of the box thinking. But,  unfortunately, she also comes from the same social school, which is happier in  creating another set of such rotten institutions and their alumni . The crisis  will continue to build.The colonial masters introduced education systems in India  to create clerks and civil servants, and we have not deviated much from that  pattern till today. Unfortunate story is - millions of hard earned parents money,  which many a time borrowed money also, going in preparing their kid for such  institutes. It has become a perpetual process. We live in a country where the people see education only as the means of climbing  the social and economic ladder.Millions of students are victim of an  unrealistic, pointless, mindless rat race. If the education system is failing – then it is certainly not due to lack of demand for good education. But one thing is certain - the purpose is not in right place. It is not meant to create entrepreneurs, innovators,  artists, scientists, thinkers and writers who can establish the foundation of a  knowledge based economy rather than the low-quality service provider nation that  we are turning into.we are busy running the call centres of the rest of the world – that is where our engineering skills end.  Can we change it? I believe we can , if we really come out with policy with some of these ideas: - the biggest flaw is incentivizing memorizing above originality. The testing and  marking system needs to be built on method which recognizes creativity, problem  solving and gives highest weight age to innovation and original research. Deviance to  be encouraged, those challenging the basic tenants should be ones who should  get maximum accolades.  - the above can be achieved only if we have entrepreneurs, leaders in education  not the salaried teaching  Clerks. - how to get good teachers - the clue is Kota institutes. The education institutes has to change from non profit making body to profit centers with teachers being the major  stakeholders.  Deregulate it, the education system needs to be extended part of industry . Not only  mechanical and electronics factories, but other facets of life like art, dance , music,  politics, sports should also extend from the system. The making of education  should not remain limited to govt funding or some black money siphoning, but has  to have value attached to it. - change the assembly line setup of education system. One rule doesn't fit to  all. Don't let the cramming and mugging aspect be the core aspect of teaching.  The control on syllabus  and pedagogy has to go away. Regulation kills innovation, swiftness , adeptness and  flexibility. Let the partner and learner decide what is needed. Teach the people how to  catch the fish. Mediocracy will automatically end. There would be no place for sub  par. FYUP or three year, should not be decided by ministers or UGS- let the parties  who are going to be beneficiary decide. - last but not the least, govt role should be on building technological infrastructure.  It could be the biggest facilitator where building skills or scale is requird . 90+ doesn't  need to look at selection list or person from backward state doesn't need to migrate  to big city! the technology has solution in education delivery and would not need  RTE to create reservation. All will have easy access. Do you agree with me?

दो बूंद

सुलग  रही थी धरती,

तीब्र  गूँज थी हाहाकार की,

छुप गया चाँद भी अमावस से ,

आभास नहीं थी शीतलता की ,

चूमा धरती को दो बूंदों ने,

हो गया तभी संतृप्त  जहाँ  ,

गए सज तभी सबके सपने  ,

छा गयी किरण  आशाओं की,

नेपथ्य अभी भी बोल रहा ,

दो बूंदों से होता क्या है ?

यह आलेख सुन्दर सिर्फ पन्नों पर ,

नहीं मिटेगी भूख इतने से ,

दो बूंदों ने बिस्वास दिया ,

सपनों में है संसार बसा ,

कर्म वही तो करतें हैं ,

जो सपने देखा करते हैं ,

सूखे वन भी झूमेंगे ,

नदियाँ फिर कल कल होंगी,

खेतों में फसले नाचेंगी  ,

और गीत पुराने गूंजेंगे ,

समय चक्र भी घूमेगा ,

कदम आगे ही जायेंगे ,

विजय अभी तो बाकी है ,

हुंकार हमें तो करने दो . ----- प्रकाश