Knowledge is Power...Not Pressure: Just a Random Rant on Education System in India

When I was young, probably in the fifth grade or so I came across a phrase “Knowledge is Power”. Back then I was just a reader, a regular Indian student who was more worried about securing good marks and move on. I had no idea about how knowledge can be associated with power and I never really bothered about asking it to my parents. However, it was only after all the hardships and experience I started realizing the true meaning behind this short phrase. Few months ago, I met this bunch of people, extremely talented and friendly and who are located in different parts of the world. For them, I am an unofficial Indian ambassador who takes them on a ride across India through my blogs and pictures. This time I am talking about the education system in India

Although, I am an Indian, my friends often find me criticizing against the Indian system and probably they even label me as a foreigner. I hate that. Because being critical is not a symbol of being unpatriotic. Anyways, I don’t mind that now because I am used to it and post marriage I have cut down the debates and my so-called caustic questions that can boil the blood of true sons of the land.

Educational stages in India are very similar to that in the UK and there are virtually no changes at all. Parents enroll their kids to nursery and the kid gradually moves up the ladder to Higher Kindergarten and then to first grade. This stage is called the pre-primary stage. First grade to fourth or fifth grade is called the Primary section. While from fifth grade to tenth grade is called the Secondary stage. So, every kid has to go through ten years of schooling that combines primary and secondary stage. In the tenth year, students have to appear for Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) examination which would certify that they are good to go. Locally, we call them “board exams”. Once cleared, students can move on to college. They will have to go through two years of junior college, so its 10+2. Students then have to appear for another board exam to clear their twelfth grade which is called Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination. If cleared, students can choose from three field; Commerce, Science and Arts and continue their education for graduation. After three years (10+2+3), there will be a graduation board exam and if students clear that they are Bachelors of whatever subject or field they have chosen. For Masters they can proceed from here on for another three years and then to higher studies and Ph.D.

Surprisingly, the student suicide rates in the UK and India are on the rise and that is what bothers me the most. As per the report by the Health Ministry of India, there were 16,000 suicide cases reported in the past three years which means every 90 minutes one student decides to end his or her life. This brings to around 16 students per day, 112 per week and 480 students per month. To be brutally honest, I must say that the education sector has been bitten by the money bug and now everybody here is cashing on the future of the students. From principals to teachers and even universities they are more concerned about the donations and money they make to keep their institutions going. There might be bunch of good people that are genuinely helpful, but that is not helping the cause. 

The syllabus is packed with information that is just good to know and sometimes not even of that caliber. In fact the knowledge that is imparted in the schools is more on the theory side rather than preparing the students of how to handle challenges of life and overcome it. Another brutal truth is that syllabus is designed in a way that leads to more books that students have to purchase. It’s a hand in glove deal between the educational administration and publishers to churn out more money. However, educational administration is not the only reason for the increasing student suicide rates. I would also like to point out the amount of pressure from parents and peer groups. There is immense competition not only to clear the exams, but to top it as well. Many students that cut short their lives are usually those who are unable to cope up with the ever-growing expectations and demands from all sides. 

Many parents work hard to pay higher fees for reputed schools and colleges and in return they expect that their kids perform exceptionally well. Kids do realize and understand the efforts and sacrifices of their family, but unfortunately not everybody can score big. Depression and low self-confidence creeps in gradually to make situations worse along with peer pressure which acts like a final nail in the coffin.

While there are consultants and suicide prevention centers here in India, they are not really effective which is clear from the numbers of suicide rates in India by students. The only way this can be curb is when families support their kids in every possible way. It is understood that there are many sacrifices that parents make for their kids to have the best of education, but that does not give them the right to load their expectations and dreams on their kids’ shoulder. Coming back to my original phrase, I would say, “Knowledge is power……not pressure”.