Indian Educational System?

Very often Indians hear about the comments being made by US President Obama emphasizing the students in Mumbai and Bangalore; and enlightening Americans about the competition from India and China. 

President Obama has also said when he has visited India that India is no more a rising power, but, has already risen. 

Britain may still think that India is no where and may continue to laugh at Indians still having the colonial mind-set. 

The strength of any country depends upon its strong educational system and its culture to respect knowledge and innovation. Western countries are very good at recognizing talent and much of Indian talent is recognized very often in the western universities like Harvard, Colombia, Stanford etc. 

I hope that the situation will change in India.

Many may still think that Indian Educational System is one of the best in the world and many show improvement in literacy rate etc. 

Indians recognize the value of education and there is no second thought about it and even families living below poverty line invest so much on their children's education and they believe that education is everything. Lot of families do not concentrate on owning or buying properties and rather, they chose to invest in their children's education and they will do everything possible to see that their children gets best possible education. 

There is a overwhelming feeling in the country that public schools have failed in imparting good quality education now and private schools have ensured direct impact on the enrollment and quality of education in Public Schools. 

How to have a very good primary education policy is very important in this country and State Governments may be having a greater role to play in this regard. 

It is very important to ensure that very child in this country, irrespective of caste or social background, gets reasonable quality of education at affordable rates. 

In some areas, primary education in private schools have become so costly and people are forced to send their children to private schools irrespective of high expenses. Even the poor families take this route. 

If the Government comes-up with a policy by fixing the fees to be charged by the Private Schools, they will argue that quality can take a beating if the fee fixation is determined by the Government. 

If the Government thinks that they can recognize the schools and can refund the fees charged by the Private Schools, then, many fake private schools can come and all the Government money can go to the pockets of people associated with politicians or directly to politicians through benamis. Even now, many private colleges are either directly or indirectly being controlled by politicians and everyone knows this. 

How to make a balance and ensure good quality education at affordable rates to all the people below-poverty line is very important for the country in the long run. 

Its a fact that Private Schools are doing well in some parts of the country and at the technical educational level, many would refer to our IITs and IIMs and other prestigious institutions. 

On the other-hand, we have had many public autonomous universities which are doing a very pathetic job and many Government colleges are not doing well even with all the infrastructure available. 

Indians should first believe that our boys in villages can produce wonderful thesis which can be no less than the thesis sponsored and submitted to the Harvard or Cambridge. We have talent and we should recognize that and we should provide opportunities to our children and message should be spread that we are no less than to anyone in the world. 

If we look at the state of Tribal Communities and educational opportunities available to them, its horrible. Governments should focus on this. Government should have a plan as to how to improve the education levels among the Tribal Communities. Since they are not united and closed communities fearing at mingling with other communities, we can not ignore them. We need to understand their problems and should ensure that they become the part of Indian growth story. They can not be left-out. 

There is a remarkable improvement in Scheduled Caste Communities when it comes to getting good educational opportunities. They have received/used the Government aid well and many charitable organisations are involved in educational activity in many Schedule Caste colonies in this country. Whoever is imparting education, they should be appreciated. 

India can not forget its educational system and what is happening at the ground level. 

Again, there is so much demand for 'computer engineering' while the industrial bodies say that they need other technicians and there is a deficit of technicians etc. Government should focus on enlightening people of their opportunities in various branches using media etc. and so that people get enlightened of the opportunities. If there is a huge demand for 'mechanical engineers' in the near future, people should know that. Elite may know the opportunities, but, ordinary families may not know anything and the Government should find innovative ways to reach-out to the these families.  While trying to reach-out to the people through-media and other means, Governments should not only focus on Doordarshan Channels etc. without thinking at the viewership and its reach. 

Indians must be knowing the positives, may listen to what President Obama says, what Americans and Chinese say, but, can not over-look the facts within. 

We should be proud of achievements and positive things, and at the same time, should focus on challenges and how to address those challenges. 

Note: the views expressed are my personal.