Let Them Think – on education system of India

Source: This post is based on the article “Let Them Think”, published in The Times of India on 5^th July, 2023.

Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2, Issues related to Education system in India

News: Recently, 550 academics have criticized the move of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to cancel a discussion on UAPA, prisons and the criminal justice system.

What the move of IISc has been criticized for being against NEP’s objective?

The National Education Policy 2020 aims to transform the educational system from a content-focused, rote-learning model to one that develops the advanced cognitive skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. The policy encourages addressing creativity challenges through an interdisciplinary approach.

IISc is the top institution in GOI’s national rankings in its categories. The decision to cancel the discussion highlights that an institute of high standard is also not following the approach of NEP. It indicates that the Indian education system may not have fully grasped the NEP’s message.

The development of creativity cannot be achieved by limiting students to a strict curriculum and discouraging any activities that might provoke questioning. Protecting students from real-world issues will be counterproductive in enhancing their cognitive abilities.

Therefore, any attempt by an institution to prevent students from exploring diverse perspectives on UAPA and its role in the criminal justice system is a significant disservice to them.