Unification of school syllabuses in India
For every event in India there is a controversy associated with it. We don’t bother whether it is good or bad. For the unification of school syllabus also the controversy has started. The main people who celebrate controversy are educationalists and the media. The main reason behind the decision of unification is the difference in the level of education that the students are getting in the various syllabuses. In a democratic country like India it looks strange to have such a difference. The main syllabuses that prevail in India are C.B.S.E, I.C.S.E and different state Syllabuses.As globalization has opened the education market in India, I.G.C.S.E and I.B syllabuses also entered in our country through International schools. International schools have become a brand for rich people who send their children to international schools. There is a great parity difference between these schools and state schools which even don’t have essential requirements.
So Government of India has decided on the unification of the school syllabus.
Initially the idea will seem to be beautiful. But with out proper preparation it will be a failure and it will do a bad impact than a good one. For an example in Kerala there are no children in the first standard of State syllabus schools in the coming year. This happened due to the sudden change in the policy of the government of India. Indian Government has modified the education law so that a child can join only on first standard if he or she has 6 years of old. But in Kerala it was five years. So what it will happen is that one standard will be left blank in the schools for the next ten to twelve years. Unification of syllabus is a good idea but it has to be implemented with out complaints and the centre has the responsibility to convince the state government about the good aspects of it.
The main reason for the demand of Indian people for the different job market is that the base of the education that they got is so strong. But recent trends in the education in India sniff a doubt in the minds of the people. The difficulty level of the school education has decreased and it is more students centered. Change of 10th standard C.B.S.E exam as an optional exam has to be examined seriously. Whether we are doing the right thing to the future? All the great people in India have followed the great Indian education system and why we have altered the system with out a failure. All the European countries looked enviously to our education system which produced a well disciplined and intelligent community. Whether our altered system will produce the same? As a Teacher I am having real doubt about the success of the newly implemented system.
Syllabus unification is a good decision. But it has to be dealt carefully as it is the future of India. If India has to become a super power it has to strengthen its well disciplined education system. No compromise should be made in the exam pattern and the evaluation system as it will bring the less talented people in the job market. Present education system should be more vocational and agriculture should be made as a compulsory practical subject in the schools as it can bring wonders to the future of India.
What we can hope is for the best. So hope for the best. Let India spreads its wings through a well educated society and can uphold its strongest message to the world, “LOKA SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANDU”.
Syam G. Krishnan
