India's consensus on school education makes room for optimism

Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limit all rights reserved. Opinion Anurag Behar 4 min Read 02 Apr 2025, 12:30 pm IST It is unmistakable that we now have an underlying national educational consensus. (Mint) Summary A striking convergence of views on this elementary matter of the country’s social and economic well -being we offer the common land needed to do what needs to be done for education. Here is what all parties largely agree on. If major changes occur slowly, we do not see it. Climate change is a striking example. Slow is anything that happens over a human life or more. For example, there have been major changes in education over the past 25-30 years, but it is such a large part of our lifespan that we are usually not aware of it. We tend to take the current condition as natural and given. One of the most important of these changes was the development of a consensus on school education, just like the political consensus on the direction of the economic management of India that originated in the early 1990s. Since education is a matter in which everyone has a direct interest, most individuals have a view on it. And therefore, this consensus rests on an underlying social consensus, unlike the economic management of the country, on which the average citizen does not have a well -formed view, although everyone is affected. Also read: Invest a lot in education: This is the cornerstone of a vikksit bharat What are the most important points of this consensus? Let’s explore them. Some of these will seem so elementary and “given” that it is difficult to believe that there were different views, beliefs and positions on these matters only 20-30 years ago. First, the most basic of all: that all children should go to school. This includes girls and children from all role players and classes. It is difficult to believe today that this elementary should, even in the 1980s, were not the societies or political. The almost 100% entry of children in primary classes tells the extent of the transformation we have been through. Second, school education forms the basis for the overall development and well -being of the country. Again, it seems surprising that we could think anything but it. But it was indeed back in the day. Schooling was a side problem. Although no one would hardly pay lips on it, it was rarely given the system -wide importance of the kind that, for example, gave higher education. Today’s budgetary expenses may not fully reflect this interest, but it would be the political Hara Kiri for any government to refuse school education in society in society and the economic aspirations of the country. Also read: Focus on foundation literacy and numeracy to improve the educational outcomes third, along with it all came the acceptance and agreement that special and extra efforts should be made for children from vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and segments to go to school, to ensure that they do not fall out, and that the school system makes their learning possible. Also, children should get a nutritious meal at school. Hungry children cannot learn, in addition to all the other problems caused by insufficient nutrition and the moral Afront that are hungry children for any society. Fourthly, we have to do a lot to improve our school education system to get it to an acceptable level. It is about matters of fairness and quality. Specifically, this consensus comes from the recognition that our schooling fails to deliver even about the most basic outcomes of literacy and numeracy. Which is an absolutely urgent crisis that we need to address. For accepting this failure and really trying to respond, our political culture does deserve Plaudites. Fifth, the curriculum in practice in our schools is very narrow. It is too focused on memorization and does not build conceptual understanding or develop or develop important human abilities such as critical thinking. It has to change. Person punishment is also illegal and should not be practiced. Also read: India’s education system needs to adapt better to the real world out there, that our entire educational culture, not only in schools, but also in homes and society in general is obsessed with the success of the exam. This includes council investigations and access tests with higher training. It’s bad. This is one of the most important causes of learning learning. It is also one of the greatest sources of psychological, social and economic tension among our children and their families. It must also be addressed. Seventh, our teacher training system, which consists of generally ‘bed colleges’, is a complete mess. This is one of the most important causes of the poor quality of our school system. This teacher training system requires a complete transformation. Eighth, that the public education system, which we often call ‘the government school system’, needs our attention and focus as it needs to improve significantly. Private school training cannot replace the public school system and cannot form the basis of good education in a democracy. Like, as, as children with similar socio-economic backgrounds, the outcomes of private schools are no better than those of public schools; In reality, they are often worse. It is a remarkable shift. Only 20 years ago, “low -cost private schools” are named the wonderful remedy for India’s school education. Also read: India must give its school education system a radical rejection. This consensus does not imply that all aspects exist evenly, and even less that everyone agrees on the road ahead. Political parties often differ on the nuances, the real importance that their schooling allows in their budgets and efforts, and even more frequently in their public rhetoric. But it is undeniable that we now have an underlying national educational consensus. It is important to emphasize this in a context where media debates only emphasize the controversies. It forms the common land that enables us to keep our public and civil society away from the headings. The author is CEO of Azim Premji Foundation. Catch all the business news, market news, news reports and latest news updates on Live Mint. Download the Mint News app to get daily market updates. More Topics #education #Child’s Education #education Policy Mint Specials