There are many areas where education system needs improvement. These are teaching-learning methodologies, innovations curriculum & pedagogies used, says DR SS MANTHA
Where is the scope for improvement in our education system?
In my view, several areas can see improvement. These include teaching-learning methodologies, innovations within the curriculum, pedagogies used, experiential learning tools, value additions in the curriculum by use of exemplary third-party content like that of Coursera, Udemy, Edx, and others. In addition to these, student-centric learning, personalised learning, use of next-generation labs like cloud innovation labs, gaming garages, AI parks, in partnership with industry and international universities, hybrid/blended learning that includes competency-based skills are all doable and required.
Why have we not managed to make improvements?
We all know that quality comes at a price. The transformation in education that we see today needs investments in IT and other digital infrastructure since the brick-and-mortar investments are passe. Adequate investment is required to ensure improvement. We had barely sufficient ratios of teacher-student at 1:15 for degree programmes. If new courses have to be added and flexibility in choosing courses is needed to be offered to the students, new faculty will have to be inducted. Are the institutes in a position to provide at least industry connections and research facilities that these faculty need if they are willing to spend time taking it up on lesser commercial terms? Are students willing to pay more for their programmes? In the absence of such factors, quality will only operate at the common denominator level.
Will NEP 2020 will be able to bring in the much-needed changes?
The NEP 2020 is a visionary document; however, the challenge is in implementation. The new model must organise around its various processes, using technology instead of its traditional functional, faculty-centric courses, and geographic boundaries. Multiple process-focused disciplines will have problems coordinating and aligning activities.
The pandemic is here to stay. Do you think scrapping exams is the way forward?
Like all pandemics, this one too will go away. However, some meaningful and credible assessments must follow to create student credentials. Continuous assessment either year-long or semester-long is the way forward. The end semester/year exams must be abandoned except for those in their final semester/year. The flip side is that when students are subjected to continuous short-term scholastic testing, including exams, essays, and class participation, it might affect the much-needed imagination, creativity, or a can-do attitude. A considered view must emerge.
Students for academic research prefer going abroad. Will improvement in Indian Education stop this?
Students go abroad for studies for a variety of reasons. It includes the perception value that quality of education might be better, and that international exposure might bring better overall development and soon. Research facilities and industry connect of the universities in Europe and the US are better. India lacks the industry connection. Unless there are many more combined research projects undertaken, unless more faculty participate in industrial research, unless the country and industry invest many times more than they are doing now, the good student migration won’t come to an end.