The very thought of India still being branded as one of the 'third world' countries despite the unprecedented developments in the nation in various sectors creates a sort of seclusion in the hearts of 'true' Indians. The striking factor that demarcates India apart from the other ‘so-called’ super powers of the world is the quotient of 'Education'. The current literacy rate in India lingers around 74 per cent (as per the 2011 census), which is still a far cry behind that of the ‘developed’ nations.
Is it the poverty that is hampering a child to enter the realms of the education? Is it the lack of availability of the resources that is causing the impending problem of illiteracy? Are the parents unwilling to offer their wards a proper education? Or is it to be blamed on the quality of education being imparted to the students? These are more or less the major reasons for such an excruciating state existing in the nation.
A childhood deprived of education is nothing more like a jaded tree without leaves. We see umpteen cases of child-labor hitting the headlines very often. According to the Right to Education act (RTE – 2009), poverty does no longer prevents a child from having education as every child aged between 6-14 years is entitled to free and compulsory education.
India has always been the birth place of great intellectuals, right from Aryabhata, Dr. C. V. Raman, to Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and more. They had fewer resources when compared to the present structure, yet they have come out with flying colors. Rather than brooding over the lack of resources in the educational system of the nation, the onus lies on utilizing the prevalent resources to the maximum.
Ideally, right from the elite group of crorepatis, and white-collared job holders to the ones in the rags and the workers who are sweating out in the quarries, mines, etc… aspire to provide their wards a proper education so as to help them settle well in their lives. If that is the case, then why is every parent complaining about the education system? In fact, most of the parents err in making a right choice in selecting the type of education they are presenting their children. A parent should identify the area of interest of his/her ward, provide the education related to that interest and nourish them in the very same field rather than comparing with their fellow parents and blindly rubbing the choices of others on their wards. This is absolutely unfair on the part of the child and it becomes the root cause of the failure of the child.
Focusing on the quality of education, almost all the Government run schools lie at the bottom of the list in imparting quality education to pupils, citing the very same old reason of insufficient funds. Add to this, various inconsequential happenings such as agitations in states are marring the educational institutes in completing the syllabus and its wrath is ultimately being borne by the children in experiencing the last-minute gush-ups, special classes, staying late in schools, etc.., which do not augur well in a child’s upbringing.
Is imparting education a business? It is very embarrassing to answer in the affirmative for this question. But it is the fact one gets to witness in the current system. Private schools are left with no choice other than tightening the screws on the innocent minds of children in order to survive in this creepy business. Children are subjected to enormous stress levels which takes a toll on their up-bringing in one or the other forms. In some cases, terrible things such as a child committing suicide, running away from home, etc… are being witnessed.
Education always subsists on a notion that says, “Education is for life. But it is not the sole and whole thing for leading a livelihood”. But how well it is useful in life can be gazed only by the incidents happened in one’s life where he/she has felt that how education has been a feather in their cap.
