Challenges and Solutions of the Indian Education System

Source: The post challenges and solutions of the Indian education system has been created, based on the article “Reading and numeracy in India: It takes a village and much more” published in “Live Mint” on 20th August 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – Governance – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

Context: The article discusses the issue of education in India, including its performance in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests, where India lagged significantly behind other countries. This serves as an example of the broader problems in the Indian education system, such as low foundational literacy and numeracy, which the article addresses by suggesting ways to enhance community involvement and support for teachers and students.

For detailed information on Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)read this article here

For detailed information on Issues with India’s education system read this article here

How Far Behind is India in Education Compared to China?

1. India was 12 years behind China in math, science, and reading in the 2009 PISA test.
2. Between 2010 and 2023, China’s higher education enrolment rose from 26.5% to 60.2%, while India’s remained between 25-28% since 2017.
3. Low foundational literacy in India contributes to 44% lower labor productivity compared to China.

What are the Main Challenges in India’s Education System?

1. Teacher and Student Disengagement: 8 out of 10 students don’t reach grade 8, and 25% of teachers often don’t show up to class, indicating deep-seated disillusionment.
2. Ineffective Community Involvement: Despite 88% of schools having School Management Committees, parents and teachers are largely unaware of their roles, leading to poor community engagement.
3. Limited Teaching Time: Teachers spend only 37% of their time teaching, and lack of proper training further reduces their effectiveness, as seen in the low impact of ad-hoc training sessions.

What Should be Done?

1. Utilize Technology to Enhance Teacher Efficiency: Technology can significantly reduce the administrative burden on teachers and improve their effectiveness. The Chimple app, used in Satya Bharti Schools, allowed teachers to assign tasks based on a child’s ability, leading to better learning outcomes. 94% of teachers found this model helpful. Implementing similar technological solutions can free up more time for teachers to focus on teaching, allowing them to better support students.
2. Recognize and Motivate Teachers: Programs like Madhya Pradesh’s Classroom Heroes, which celebrate top performers, should be expanded to boost teacher motivation.
3. Enhance Parental Involvement: Schools with strong parental engagement are 10 times more likely to improve learning outcomes. Providing parents with clear, contextual information on their child’s progress can help bridge gaps.
4. Strengthen Community Involvement: Learn from Vietnam, where strong community expectations improved student discipline and PISA scores, even with low educational spending.

Question for practice:

Discuss the role of community and parental involvement in addressing the challenges of India’s education system.