Indian education, talent and career: the myth and reality of
achievement, accomplishment and success!
Education, talent and career: About the “New
Educational Policy,” many have started interpreting differently, according to
their ideology, agenda and commercialization of education. As perspective,
viewpoint and approach vary, and he discussions, debates and conclusion change
from interpreter to interpreter. From politician or ideologist, no honest
interpretation can be expected and only the suffering parents and children only
know, understand and anguish about the hidden nuances. But, the underlying fact
that India has been and has to produce techies catering to the changing
technologies of the world giants, their goods and services. As every product is
modified, updated and declared as withdrawn, the serving techies have to change
accordingly. Here, no ethics, morality and standards can be expected, though,
they might have read or passed at least a paper on such subject. Even, the
foreign universities existing and newly created started exploiting the Indian
students with attractive packages, so that they could come to their places and
spend 7 to 15 lakhs per annum, so that their counties and rural areas are
developed and local people get good business in lodging and restaurants. Unfortunately, here, also the elite categories
win the race with their monetary, political and other supports, whereas, the
middle class continue to suffer. More pathetic have been the cases of
drop-outs. For rich people, it does not matter, they put the degree in
brackets, marry off and settle in their own enterprises. And the poor and middle-class
winners would come there and work under them with the monthly salaries of Rs 15,
000/- to 25, 000/- So, here, none can
honestly analyze the education, talent and career and how they work.
Changing paradigm from hundred-year
history of Macaulayan education system to by 70 years of the post-independence
system to present scenario: G. Krishnakumar[1]
and V. Krishna Bhatt[2]
has published an article in Indian Express and that provoked me. I have added my comments in red on RHS of the column. They started to
record, “A recent report states that
India jumped five ranks to 35th position in the Worldwide Educating for the
Future Index 2019. The jump has been attributed to India’s efforts with the
draft National Education Policy (NEP). This should serve as a motivation for
the Narendra Modi government to get the much-awaited final NEP out soon. The
final NEP will be based on the draft NEP, but far fewer pages compared to the
450+ page draft. It is understandable that the NEP committee spent over three
years with over one lakh meetings to frame the policy.
One of the members of the committee, Prof M K
Sridhar, mentioned that the NEP committee had to consider a hundred-year
history of Macaulayan education system in the country, followed by 70 years
of the post-independence system to provide an exhaustive policy framework for
the next generation education system. The draft NEP received several critical
inputs over the past 6 months or so. It is still unclear as to what extent
tweaks would be made in the final version. But no policy is perfect, and it
would make sense for the Centre to move ahead to finalise the policy and
allow for periodic changes”.
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The European East
Indian Companies [EIC] wanted to do business through colonial exploitation,
understanding the differences existing in the Indian society without any trade
ethics or commercial morality.
The succeeding
socialist, communist and egalitarian advocating ideologized politicians
continued the same EIC exploitation, in their own ways.
Only the Indians
have been sustaining everything and surviving with the inherent factors, in
spite of the onslaughts of all sorts of exploitation by the above mentioned
forces.
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Teaching the teachers, training
the trainers etc: They went on, “This
article focuses on the NEP recommendations, specifically around Higher
Education Institutions (HEI) and suggests some improvements. India’s struggle
to get into the top 100 ranking amongst global universities is well known. Will
India become one of the best over the next two decades? It is certainly
possible if the policy is implemented in the right spirit irrespective of
government in power.
Teaching the Teachers: The draft policy talks about
categorising HEIs into three types of institutions, type 1 being research
universities, type 2 teaching universities and type 3 colleges. The concept of
creating teaching universities is a welcome move. These will encourage teachers
to constantly upgrade their knowledge. The report envisions 1000-2000 such
universities to come up over the next two decades, reskilling thousands of
teachers. In the overall scheme, it would be useful for corporate employees to
be given a chance for lateral entry into HEIs as teaching staff with an
appropriate bridge training programme in type 2 universities.
Multi-disciplinary approach in HEI: The other
highlight of the draft policy is the aspect on fostering innovation through
emphasis on liberal education. Over the past decades, Indians have been
blocked by the “stream” approach in higher education, where students are
segregated into science, arts, etc. Instead, the approach here is to
encourage students to take up specialisation in certain subjects while also
supporting them on liberal education like philosophy, music, etc”.
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Yes, they can
take jobs of priest, actor, politician, model, fashion designer, broker,
commission agent, realtor, builder, head-waitress, dancer and so on.
Of course,
celebrity, sports man and woman, banker, businessman, industrialist,
advocate, judge etc., can also be chosen.
But, where, such training
could be given to the talented children, after identifying their hidden skills. Who could train to certify to fit for the job?
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Skill development and creating
job market: They went on, “There are
several examples from India’s own history where universities like Nalanda and
Takshashila provided high-quality multi-disciplinary structure for the holistic
development of students. It is also well known that several global innovations
were achieved due to innovation spurred by interdisciplinary setups in
universities and corporate houses. However, this means a great amount of
unlearning is needed at all levels, including government set-ups and
educational institutions. The policy has suggested that all standalone
professional institutions must become multidisciplinary by 2030. A tall ask,
but much needed for the transformation to be effective. The suggestion on
creating a National Research Foundation as a vehicle for funding and supporting
innovation in all academic disciplines is a good move.
Skill Development: A recent report from the UN
Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that India’s working age population (15-59
years) will reach 65% by 2030. India will also enjoy the longest demographic
dividend compared to any other country till 2055. India still has 35 years to
make the best in the global job market. Vocational education in all
institutions offering professional education will play a key role in India
developing a skilled workforce. The policy talks about multiple entry and
exit options for students, with relaxed age and time limits providing the
students with the required flexibility”.
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Thus, again and
again, how Indians could be made better servants, faithful workers and loyal
subordinates to western society, business and industries are only emphasized.
By 2030, 2055
etc., what would be the conditions of science technology and the goods and
services?
If only Indians
had to change generation by generation catering to the needs of foreign
masters, they would be again some sort of slaves only.
Cant India
develop herself to satisfy the present 130 crores of 2020, 150 of 2030 and so
on?
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Learning by doing: They went on,
“As the policy provides institutions with
autonomy on the course content within a larger framework, it is expected that
three types of institutions would emerge.
The first one would be innovation and
multidisciplinary institutions.
The second one will be aimed at research-oriented
students.
A third, larger set would opt for “learning by doing”.
This would mean 70-80% of the course content will be
practical and industry relevant. There are several examples of universities and
educational institutions across the globe that have successfully implemented
the “learning by doing” method. Such institutions would help produce an industry-ready
workforce.
Values: As India aspires to become a hub for
world-class talent, the focus on knowledge, skill development, and strong
language skills (Indian and foreign) is paramount. However, our education
system should also ensure students are high on values and ethics”.
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About “values,”
Indians need not be burdened, as they are imbibed in their culture,
tradition, heritage and civilization, in spite of many onslaughts of
aggression, ideological war, propagandist poundings and so on.
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Education system must be based on
our social and economic needs and inculcate good values in students: They went on,
“In general, a lack of values can be
attributed to a societal issue as well as a reflection on our education system.
Does a highly competitive and stressful educational environment force people to
adopt wrong means? Perhaps the flexibility for students as per the new policy
could provide some relief. Considering our rich tradition and comprehensive
life philosophy, the education system must be based on our social and economic
needs and inculcate good values in students. Summing-up, the suggestions in the
NEP should be implemented in the right spirit for transforming our education
system to spur innovation and create high quality talent for industry and
research needs.
A holistic approach in higher education based on
knowledge, skills and values would be required for India to become a global
talent leader over the next two decades. India’s struggle to get into the top
100 ranking amongst global universities is well known. Will India become one
of the best over the next two decades? It is certainly possible ... the
suggestions in the NEP should be implemented in the right spirit for
transforming our education system to spur innovation and create high quality
talent for industry and research needs”.
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To what extent,
the skilled, trained and learned Indians could be applying his skills and
serve to foreign countries and masters or their “Global Talent Leader,” has to be specified. As 30-50 years of future cannot be specified within
framework, in “learning by doing,” Indians cannot waste time, energy and
funds in changing “what they have done.” Betterment of goods and services are
good, but, degradation accompanied with such environment has to be taken into
account, as pollution and corruption have pervaded every space of the globe.
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Why
foreign degree holders and employees coming back to India?: There have been
reports that foreign educated students are returning back to India to start their
own enterprise, because of their family business and other related facilities
available to them[3].
Their main emphasis has been that they could earn more in India. There are multiple reasons for this,
say, industry experts. India has a lot more opportunities as well as good
quality of living. Many of these students have their own family businesses back
home, which they want to come back and support, while there are some who are
not from the top-tier institutes who might be finding it tough to get a job
there[4]. Here also, the less
fortunates, e.g, those who do not have any background, enterprising support
etc., have to take odd jobs and works under others. Another category has been
well-settled, good-earning professionals coming back to India[5]. This has been a temporary
phenomenon, as they themselves point out[6]. Of course, they are not
worried about money. So even, if they return to India, they would get jobs or
do business to keep up their profits. Only, lower-middle management varieties,
technicians and workers suffer.
What could be real Education, talent and career in
Indian context: After analyzing the pros and cons, the following points are
culled out and listed out, briefly. Of course, each point can be elaborated in
detail:
1. India and Indians sustained,
developed and stood steadily based on time-tested values and standards,
automatically followed, though, many of them have been corrupted by the Moghuls
and the EICs.
2. Here, the Indians
believed in production by mass and not mass production, that is why, all
Indians were engaged in some work and the goods were produced and markets
flooded.
3. As more varieties of goods were produced and
manufactured, barter was there satisfying the needs of the people and
respecting their labour.
4. The goods and services
manufactured and produced by Indians had always been in consonance with nature
and therefore, never the ecological balance was disturbed.
5. The earth, water, fire,
air, cosmos, hills, rivers, minerals, animals, trees, flowers and everything was
deified, respected and worshipped also, thus, the nature and mother earth the universe
and everything was protected.
6. Thus, the education had
been catering to the needs and requirements of society, nation and universe.
7. Symbolically, food is
offered to everything, nor that everything would actually eat, but, such ethics
have been built and ingrained in the minds of the people.
8. Many times, in the westernized
syllabus and education, the terminology changes, but, the concepts do not
change, as they believe more in selling their products and not principles.
9. Indians sell goods and
services with love and respect and thus, such positive values and ethics are
passed on consciously, though, the buyer knows or understands.
10. Thus, quality education is
also passed on to the students through trained teacher consciously and he never
withholds anything as a trade secret or expecting favour for the transfer of “technical
know-how.”
© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao
04-03-2020
[3]
Economic Times, Indians studying abroad
turning down overseas offers for job back home, By Rica
Bhattacharyya, ET Bureau, Last Updated: Aug 21, 2018, 07.23 AM IST
[5]
Economic Times. In panic mode, US-based Indian
professionals hunt for jobs back home, By Prachi Verma and
Sreeradha D Basu , ET Bureau| Last Updated: Feb 01, 2017, 06.32 AM IST
