What India can learn from global educational institutions

During India’s Independence, there were close to 19 universities and 591 colleges with around 0.2 million enrollment. Today the number has changed drastically with approximately 666 universities and 39,671 colleges. The growth story has been absolutely significant. India claims to have second largest higher education system in the world. However, with a huge population as in India, many are left without the privilege of even attending school.

The education market in the US is estimated to be about $1.3 trillion. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 100k establishments in the private Education Service industry; almost 200k when including local, state and federal government institutions; combined this industry employs over 3.5 million people. On the private side, the industry is largely fragmented – the fifty largest companies represent just 30 per cent of the total revenue in the industry.

However, with realisation of the fact above and change in regulations by government, India is opening up to the world economy. Many foreign educational institutions are coming to India and starting schools and colleges in order to take advantage of low cost infrastructure, staff and huge population.

There is a huge gap in the quality of education, infrastructure etc between the education system of India and US. With many global educational institutes coming to India, we have a lot to learn from them. Here are a few things that the Indian education sector can learn from global educational institutions.

Focus on practical aspect

Indian education focuses more on theory rather than practical and students are made to adapt the rote learning method. Also, the Indian education system doesn’t open up to creativity. Whereas foreign countries focus more on practical based learning and allow creativity in education.

Room for extra-curriculars

Foreign education curriculum includes extra-curriculars along with studies. For example: the US has arts, sports, music and theatre in syllabus. Australia focuses more on sports including cricket, hockey and boxing in their college curriculum whereas Indian education system only emphasises on academics. There is no room for extracurriculars in our education system. They are considered secondary to academic performance.

Hiring of counsellors to bring a sea-change

In India, students take admission seeing the trends. So if in a particular year, majority of students are rushing towards, let’s say, mechanical engineering, you’re bound to take admission in mechanical engineering, neglecting your interest. Students are not given a choice to select their field of stream. In India, parents tend to go with the flow whereas in foreign countries, students wait until they get admission into their field of interest. Thus, taking cues from the education system abroad, India requires counsellors in schools to guide parents to let children pursue their career in their field of interest.

According to Chan Huang Yee, Executive Director, I Can Read, “In India, there is no institution that focuses on reading. Good reading develops child’s confidence and personality. I feel good when my children do not hesitate in picking up any book from the shelf and read it interestingly. In India, we have teachers and counsellors to guide parents and list out the benefits of enrolling their children into reading classes early in their lives. We have good hopes from the Indian market as parents are awakening to this side of education too.”

Slow in adaptation of technology

Education system hasn’t changed much after independence. Indian education system is very slow in adopting latest technologies in curriculum. In foreign countries, however, curriculum changes every day according to upgradation of technology and requirements of the industry.

Hell-bent on Grades & certificates

And lastly the Indian education sector believes in grades and certificates. It’s all about taking admission in IITs and IIMs whereas foreign countries believe in skills. They don’t care about the educational institution but what the child has learnt and what skills they acquired. Though the situation is improving with the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Skill India Mission.

A lot needs to be learnt from foreign educational institutions. Globalisation in education will reform our current education system and make it more meaningful. The increase in quality of education and making it liberal will strengthen the brand’s image and help edupreneurs attract more parents and students.