IS INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM DATED?

One is supposed to tie the knot with a partner after attaining 21 years of age, drink after 21, and drive after 18. All of these are examples of such life choices which can have a long-lasting impact on life itself. Naturally, we need to have some basic understanding of our reality before we can indulge ourselves in a choice that can either make our lives heaven on earth or throw them down in the valley of hell. That much we understand. As John Wick would say, "On that, we agree." But, I often wonder, who was the fool who decided that attaining 16 years of age was enough to make a decision regarding something which lays the foundation of your entire future?

16 years of age is when you can apply to have a learners' driving license for a scooter that comes with a 50cc engine (or below). Ironically, that is exactly the age at which this nation's youth is supposed to select one particular field, out of the holy trinity of Science, Commerce, and Humanities, and walk down that path for the rest of their lives. A decision that is supposed to be so crucial that it can make or break your life. No wonder most of the millennials worry about the road not been taken. Till the time they turn 18 and have a chance to think about their choices once again, they are thrown out in the world to compete in the Great Asian Race of College which blinds most of them to the fact that the path that is paved for them will never run out of races which are rigged to set them up for disappointment.

Why so bleak? Well for starters, I am a product of this failing and outdated system, and I am tired of running in these damn races. So, I am breaking the shackles and calling out on the system that is in dire need of an upgrade. The New Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 puts forth an exciting change in the current education system of India but, that all depends not only on its quick implementation but also on its effective implementation as well. Such progressive changes which seek to put an end to a long war between students of science and commerce are not thought of for the first time. The NEP of 1968 and 1986 had also proposed such changes but their implementation failed harder than Adolf did in WW-II. Think about it, how many times have you changed your phone? How many times in a day does your phone prompts you for an update? A new flagship piece of tech is released every year that outdoes its predecessor. How drastically have the operating systems of today have changed from the past two decades? How many times have you heard the saying, "change is the only constant in this dynamic world." Now that you have given all of this a thought, just ponder the question, "why hasn't the classroom education system witnessed a change till now?" If the world is truly dynamic, and its components change rapidly, why shouldn't the methods of imparting education change too? Why shouldn't the rules and regulations which govern such methods altered with the passage of time? Why the shortcomings and failures of such methods are often overlooked?

The truth is, we are assumed to take part in the above mentioned race and most of us are ill-equipped to come out successful. Some of us who are indeed equipped enough to reach the peak of success through this musty system are seldom found to be fully satisfied with their achievements. That is exactly why career switch is such a common scenario in today's world. It has its own list of merits and demerits. But, from my point of view, a career switch at an early stage is much appreciated than at a later stage in one's life. Why shouldn't we be given the choice to undo our 2-3 years of hard work in order to save the rest of 35-40 years of our life from frustration, boredom, and dissatisfaction? And like any other decision one makes, this decision should also be a well thought out and rational one. I am not suggesting you to go ahead and quit your job, although I am well aware how difficult it is to resist the temptation. I am suggesting you to analyze your present situation and ask yourself the question:

"Can I carry on with this for the rest of my life?"

If the answer to the above question is "Yes", kudos to you. And if not, you need to do some serious thinking. Blaiming the system for your worries is easy and also logical when you are a direct product of that system. But, remaining a part of that system even after being aware of its shortcomings is on you. Either fix it, or get out. Be the Neo to your Matrix.

Just a side note: Why do we always think about startups when we need to associate something with "Risky Life-Choices." I mean, I get it that there is always a risk associated with setting up your own business as opposed to working for someone else to achieve that false sense of security. But, why "preparing for a government job" is not considered a gamble? The sheer amount of coaching centers that prepare individuals for govt. jobs are enough to showcase just how much traffic there is on this path. You put in efforts, give your best, and try to win against the tide, again and again, knowing, that the odds are stacked against you. If this is not a gamble then, going ahead with your idea and working towards its accomplishment is not a gamble either. Maybe life itself is a gamble inside the casino of the cosmos. And maybe we need to understand that. Till then, keep reading at NotionWave and stay tuned with our podcast @NotionWavePodcast.

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