As per Anand Mishra, CEO of Star Infranet, the current K-12 system of education in India is already a big improvement from previous systems. But, there are a lot more to be improved in the basic education system of India, starting from primary education.
The foundation of young children should be rooted in early education. Their love for learning and their thirst for knowledge should be developed from primary school. This can only happen with the right environment that stimulates their natural curiosity. This is something that cannot be found in the current Indian education system.
The teachers themselves are not motivated or qualified enough. Teacher attendance rate is down to only 75% – 85%. Those who have the right qualifications are bound by the need to cram lessons into the class hours so that the students will be able to satisfactorily answer their exams. Although a lot of students get high grades, these marks are not exactly indicative of the students’ level of understanding of the concepts and theories.
There is also very little to be excited about in school. The classroom setting and atmosphere are not often conducive to learning. The syllabus and the curriculum are outdated. It is no wonder that studies conducted by international organizations like UNESCO found that a large percentage of students actually remained illiterate even after four to six years in school.
Given these facts, the changes in education system in India should address the following basic elements:
What is taught in school
Who teaches in school
How the lessons are taught