Education- Our Nation needs a common education system

Our Nation needs a common education system

By C.K.Muralidharan

Education in our country is not provided to every citizen on a equal status. Every state in our country follows different syllabus in schools (Private- ICSE, CBSE, state syllabus) and the government has got minimum control over the private educational institutions.

India being a country of diversity, where multiplex languages are spoken, needs a common education system to be followed by all the educational institutions (schools & colleges) throughout the country.

Affluent parents who are financially well placed admit their children to ICSE & CBSE schools in different cities and states. The parents are of the view that if their child studies in a private school with ICSE/CBSE syllabus, their children will be better placed and will get quality education, but it always does not happen.

The children coming from the lesser privileged poor and middle class families will not be able to go to the Private schools as they cannot afford the fees and they study in government schools.

Each State government provides education in government schools, where the syllabus is of the state. The language taught/medium of teaching will be the state language, whereas in ICSE and CBSE schools the children are taught in the English medium.

Division comes here itself, with the rich and the affluent admitting their children in private schools whereas the poor/middle class students study in government schools.

The scenario differs in developed countries, where equal education from the basic level is given to every citizen in the same school. Even a top earning parent's child studies together with a child coming from a poor economic background.

When children pass out of their 10th & 12th standards and start preparing and appearing for the competitive exams, normally the children studying in English medium schools fare well compared to the students studying in the government schools where English is their second or third language as most of the competitive exams for admission to Engineering/Medicine are conducted in English language.

Differentiation/disparity crops up here and the basic education system is not on level playing terms.

When education is given at a cost, then the question of equality, sustainability and quality education for everyone is compromised.

The government needs to think on overall development and the education system should would benefit the citizens. All schools and colleges should teach the same syllabus throughout the country.

Hope the policy makers think on these lines to provide a standard education policy where all citizens are given affordable education on parallel lines.