All That Is Wrong with the Indian Education System

Despite being the second-largest education system in the world, India’s educational framework faces critical challenges that compromise the future of millions of students. From outdated curricula to profit-driven institutions, the system is riddled with flaws that affect all stakeholders—Universities/Boards, Colleges/Schools, Teachers, Students, Parents, and the Industry. A deeper analysis reveals why the system remains inefficient and fails to prepare students for the real world.

Understanding the Stakeholders

In reality, education has become a business where each stakeholder plays a specific role. Let’s explore these roles in the educational ecosystem.

1. Universities/Boards: The Planners

Universities and boards design the curriculum and decide what students will learn. They create educational standards, often without considering the needs of the job market. This disconnect results in a curriculum that fails to prepare students for real-world challenges, leading to a significant gap between education and employability.

2. Colleges/Schools: The Greedy Profiteers

Colleges and schools, which should serve as educational hubs, often function more like profit-driven businesses. They charge exorbitant fees while providing substandard facilities and underqualified teachers. Many are run by politicians or linked to political parties, allowing them to bypass regulations and engage in corrupt practices. Their focus is on maximizing profits rather than delivering quality education, treating students and parents as mere sources of income. A well-known case is the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, where influential politicians and businessmen manipulated entrance exams for professional courses, jeopardizing the careers of countless students.

3. Teachers: The Disinterested Executors

Teachers are crucial in implementing the educational plans. However, many enter the profession due to a lack of other opportunities. Often unskilled and underpaid, they lack the motivation to inspire students. This results in a disengaged workforce that struggles to provide effective education, further diminishing the quality of learning and contributing to the overall inefficiency of the system. Instances of teachers focusing more on private tuition than classroom teaching reflect the deteriorating commitment to student development.

4. Students: The Disillusioned Beneficiaries

Students, the primary beneficiaries of the system, often find themselves caught in a cycle of disappointment. The education they receive rarely aligns with industry demands or their personal aspirations. This disconnect leaves them feeling unprepared and anxious about their future, contributing to widespread frustration and discontent among young learners. For example, a 2019 survey revealed that 48% of Indian graduates felt unprepared for their jobs, highlighting the mismatch between education and employment.

5. Parents: The Powerless Payers

Parents make significant financial sacrifices to provide education for their children but have little influence over what or how their children are taught. Despite their investments, they are left watching helplessly as their children navigate an education system that does not guarantee success. Their role is limited to paying the bills, with no control over the quality or relevance of the education provided. The case of exorbitant fees charged by private schools in metropolitan cities is a stark reminder of how parents are exploited in the name of education.

6. Industry: The Demanding Employers

The industry, which relies on the education system to produce skilled graduates, often finds itself disappointed. The curriculum set by educational institutions rarely meets the skills required in the job market. This results in a workforce that is underprepared for employment, forcing companies to invest in additional training to bridge the gap between education and job readiness. Many industries, such as IT and manufacturing, have reported spending substantial resources on retraining fresh graduates.

The Problems

1. Out-of-Touch Planning

Universities and boards decide what will be taught without understanding market needs. Their disconnected approach forces teachers, students, and parents to follow an outdated curriculum that doesn’t prepare students for the future. This lack of alignment leads to graduates who are ill-equipped for professional demands.

2. Profit-Driven Colleges and Schools

Colleges and schools prioritize profit over education. They charge high fees while cutting costs on essential services like faculty salaries and infrastructure. Their political ties allow them to exploit loopholes and continue malpractices with impunity. As a result, students receive a poor education, and parents are left to bear the financial burden without seeing meaningful returns.

3. Unmotivated and Unskilled Teachers

Many teachers lack the passion or skills to educate effectively. They enter the profession as a last resort, and their lack of commitment and training diminishes the quality of education. This impacts students directly, as they receive inadequate guidance and support, further contributing to their disillusionment and disengagement.

4. Disengaged and Anxious Students

Students are aware that their education doesn’t meet industry standards. This awareness, coupled with high expectations and pressure, often leads to anxiety and stress. The lack of a clear path from education to employment leaves many students feeling lost and unprepared for the future.

5. Helpless and Frustrated Parents

Parents, despite paying high fees, have no say in their children’s education. They are forced to accept whatever the schools and colleges provide, with no control over the quality or relevance of the curriculum. Their financial investment often feels wasted when their children fail to secure good jobs or career opportunities.

6. Mismatched Industry Demands

The industry requires graduates with specific skills that the current education system doesn’t provide. Companies struggle to find qualified candidates, and graduates face challenges in securing jobs that match their education. This mismatch results in a lack of suitable talent in the job market, creating a frustrating situation for both employers and job seekers.

The Outcome

The consequences of this flawed system are predictable and disheartening:

• Colleges and schools continue to profit without providing quality education.
• Teachers remain underpaid and demotivated, with little impact on students’ learning.
• Parents lose money and see little return on their investment.
• Students suffer from inadequate preparation and uncertain futures.
• Universities and boards operate disconnected from real-world needs.
• The industry struggles to find qualified talent but manages to adapt through additional training and development.

Conclusion

The Indian education system, as it stands, is a flawed business model that values profit over purpose. The stakeholders need to realign their goals to ensure that students receive an education that equips them for the future. Only then can we hope to create a system that benefits everyone involved. Without a collective effort to address these systemic issues, the cycle of disappointment and inefficiency will continue, leaving millions of young minds unfulfilled and underprepared.