Need to revamp education system in India urgently: Vice President

Mysuru, Jul 13: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today stressed the urgent need for revamping Education system, including School Education content.

Speaking after laying foundation stone for Dr S Radhakrishna auditorium to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore in the Regional Institute of Education here on Saturday, he underlined that Teaching and learning should not be mechanical. There is a need for Teachers to provide examples of real life situations to enable better understanding by the students. 

He said that the draft National Policy on Education, which is being debated, will pave way for a resurgent educational system that contributes for the prosperity and well-being of the people. In this context, it is important to note that the quality of learning is determined primarily by Teacher competence, skill, commitment and motivation. The academic and professional standards of Teachers constitute a critical component of the essential learning conditions for achieving the educational goals.

He said that the social and the professional relevance of Teacher preparation programmes, the curriculum, teaching methods, procedures, infrastructure facilities and availability of technological and teaching resources need to be thoroughly examined from time-to-time. "As the teacher functions within the broad framework of the school education system – its goals, curricula, materials and methods-- the Teacher preparation should be in tune with the changes envisaged or implemented at school level", he added.

He said the Indian education system is passing through a critical phase as we strive towards quality and equity for all in the era of globalization.

"We have made huge progress in Schools, Teacher and Higher Education. The enrollment rates have increased significantly, the infrastructure facilities have improved tremendously and now it is time for us to focus on educational transaction that happens within the classroom.’ he added.

Stating that the goal of education is not merely to get employment, he said it should lead to enlightenment and empowerment of the individual by fostering humane qualities.

He said that expectations are immense from the teaching community to not only maintain high standards of teaching but also impart right values and mould students into responsible and socially-conscious citizens. The Education Commission (1964-66) professed that, “The destiny of India is now being shaped in her classrooms”. The National Policy on Education 1986 emphasized: “The status of the Teacher reflects the Socio-Cultural ethos of the Society; it is said that no people can rise above the level of its teachers”. So, the role of Teacher is central to shaping the future citizens of the country.

He said that character-building and strong grounding in India’s culture, history, traditions and customs have to be essential components of the education system. "No doubt, we need to accept all that is good from different quarters, but we have to remain rooted to our past. We need to introspect, rejuvenate and move ahead by introducing changes in accordance with the changing times".

Venkaiah Naidu said that the role of Teacher is crucial in building a literate, enlightened and humane society. The Teacher is the guru, mentor, guide, friend and philosopher of the student. In fact, the Guru-Shishya parampara of the ancient Gurukul system encapsulated this philosophy. While technology has greatly enhanced teaching-learning processes in today’s world, it can never replace the Guru, who is an embodiment of knowledge and wisdom. 

He said that next to parents, Teachers play the most important role in guiding the pupils on the right path and in inculcating values that will hold them in good stead all through their lives. As such, Teachers not only need to update their skills and hone their abilities, but must also make class-room learning an interesting and enjoyable experience to the students. An important step in this direction would be to do away with rote method of learning.

The Vice President said that it is happy to note that in order to train teachers at different levels, 31 Institutes of Advanced Studies in Education (IASEs), 104 Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs) and 571 District Institutes of Education and Training were sanctioned under the centrally-sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

He said that the teacher education system through its pre-service and continuing professional development programmes will ensure an adequate supply of professionally competent Teachers. "A Teacher needs to be prepared in relation to the needs and demands arising in the school context. So, the Teachers must be innovative and competent enough to face the challenges of the modern society".

He said that a new age Teacher not only has to be up to date on teaching and learning methods, but also has to actively participate in the preparation of syllabi, textbooks and teaching-learning materials. Such a role requires the Teacher to be equipped with an adequate understanding of curriculum, subject-content and pedagogy, on the one hand, and the community and school structures and management, on the other.

Teachers need to be creators of knowledge, value what children learn from their home, social and cultural environment and create opportunities for children to discover, learn and blossom to their full potential.

He said that Education is not a mechanical activity of information transmission and learning cannot be confined to the four walls of the classroom. In order to extend learning beyond class rooms, there is a need for Teachers to connect knowledge to life outside the school and enrich the curriculum by making it less textbook-centred. Teachers must be encouraged to use forums to exchange ideas, information and experiences including web-based portals. At the same time, there should be transparent systems for ensuring accountability of school teachers.

The Vice President stressed that both pre-service and in-service training of Teachers is a major area of concern at present. Pre-service training needs to be improved and differently regulated both in the government sector and private institutions, while systems for in-service training require expansion and major reform.

He said that the parents are important stakeholders in education and they should be made aware of the importance and scope of education. Thrusting parental ambitions on children and pressurizing them to excel all the time are not healthy developments in the society. Students should be allowed to be creative and innovative. Also, judicious use of electronic gadgets is necessary for productive time management.

The Vice President called upon Teachers to strive collectively in making India the knowledge and innovation hub of the 21st century.