Opinion | Why Education reforms are a need of the hour ?

At the launch of the second edition of Smart India Hackathon 2018, ( HRD Ministry's initiative ). The Hon'ble HRD Minister rightfully pointed out referring students as slaves of coaching institutes and these institutes promoting rote learning. He further added, " Very few teachers like to be asked questions and this has prevented overall understanding of subjects and learning... This is the reason coaching centers are getting stronger. "

I read this on a Facebook page. Here is the link http://www.youthincmag.com/students-become-slaves-coaching-classes-prakash-javadekar. 

All though I realized that the Hon'ble Minister is referring to the coaching centers which advertise getting into IITs and IIMs, reading the content left me with profound thoughts as to why parents and students opt and rely on coaching institutes. Being a product of a coaching institute myself, where I studied for 3 years which was my 8th, 9th and 10th. I question myself as to why did I and all my fellow batch mates opt for coaching?

To my mind, I was schooled in the best school in my vicinity with all the facilities, academics and extracurricular activities which helped students in the all-round development, which every school has I believe. However, our lectures were time-bound and there was a huge syllabus to be completed. Most of the time, the teachers would focus on completing the syllabus and ignore everything else. Hence, there was a dire need of coaching institutes which offered everything related to academics and many students would completely rely on coaching institutes.

So who sets the syllabus? The Government? Since I studied from Maharashtra State Board it is the Education Department of the State of Maharashtra as printed on our Textbooks. I would admit that the syllabus is an epitome of promoting rote learning and coaching classes are a reliable source to learn well and vomit in our papers because eventually, your percentage is a product of your rote learning and the passport to your college admissions. So why I do I bother to understand concepts when eventually I don't have to think, I just have to mug up is the attitude of most of the students. So why do they bother to pay attention in school or participate in any activity because parents and children know it well that we just have to aim for that perfect score to get into the desired Institution.

A school or a college can provide best facilities, remarkable faculty and infrastructure, however, they certainly do not have any autonomy towards the syllabus. To my mind, educational reforms are a need of the hour which every Government in power have always neglected. The Government comes up with different programs and initiatives and asking the youth to contribute but how does one feel that sensitivity towards any cause when in school days most of us never did the thinking but only rote learning aiming for a perfect score. We fail to understand that everything is interrelated and that success is interdependence.

We need to understand as a nation that education is an important component after health and it is crucial to impart sensible education. Every school, institutes are trying hard to give the exposure to students however it only ensures the all-around development of few bright students who accept the fact that I have to rote learn and clear the exam and also pursue my hobbies for my all-around development but what about the other students in the classroom when they enter the college life or the professional life they end up discouraged because what they learn so far has nothing to do with their practical job. This is a common problem faced by the youth in the nation.

It's high time that the Government introduce educational reforms and appoint educators, retired academicians to design and evaluate the curriculum every academic year because of the volatile world which is constantly changing, it is imperative to appoint academicians to administer that the reforms are implemented. It is essential that Government partner with universities and provide opportunities to implement what they learn in a classroom, so there is a valuable education wherein every student becomes an ambassador for promoting Right to education so that every student feels responsible and understand the magnitude of being educated and not just literate. We are known as a sensible nation and we are easily offended however it's time that we impart sensible education and be a sensible, conscious citizens.

Education without values is certainly a complete waste, it's not just the Government, the school authorities, the teachers but we all need to contribute to this as parents and students by enjoying what we learn and I hope that the Government introduces reforms in which moral values and character development are given priority.

Lastly, Let us remember the words of Margaret Mead, “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”

Thankyou

YJ Rahul Bagwe