THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Jitendra G. Kothari
Education is a foundation stone for cultural, and sentimental development of a child. It is not limited only up to gaining literacy, but is a strong medium of providing opportunities for the thorough and all round mental development of a person. Education is a powerful medium of learning process, which opens up the horizons of vast scope for the bright future. Realising the importance of education, many rich countries in the world, therefore, spend 6% of their GDP on education which is supposed to be an ideal spend. India is currently spending 4 % of its GDP on education, the target is 6% to spend in the years to come.
But sadly, the quality of our education is not up to the mark. Poor quality of teachers reflects the present dismal standard of education. Certainly, it requires improvements, in the hiring of teachers who can be motivational and their firm commitment to teach with modern technology, and to don the role of a mentoring, in due course, for the holistic development of a child. Higher education needs to be the industry-friendly so that our graduates can easily be absorbed into an organization.
Covid-19 pandemic has wrought havoc all over the world, including India, the severe recession and the economic disaster since the World War II, shredding per capita incomes and jostling millions into poverty.
The more the educated people, the more the chances of the nation progressively getting prosperous, and gradually eradicating poverty. The teacher plays a pivotal role in moulding the future of students. Career of the student hinges on the quality of the education he/she imbibes from the teacher. Hence, selecting a teacher, a strict and no-nepotism mechanism is needed to ensure the hiring of committed teachers who have the inclination and proclivity to handle the kids of different mentality, understand their psychology and accordingly teach them.
On account of series of lockdown in various countries in the world, including India , 150 crore children stopped going to schools, out of this, 70 crore belong to India and Bangladesh. There are 33 crore school-going children in India, out of which only 10.3% have online facility for studies.
Economic Survey of Maharashtra data planked in 2018, divulges there were 22,477 private unaided schools in the State or 21.1% are private unaided schools. There was 111% surge in the private unaided schools between the academic years 2013 -14 and 2017-18.
Considering the way the municipal schools are, gradually, getting emptying out, another 130,000 more private schools are needed to meet the demands of parents.
Of the total population in the age group of 18-23 , which is around 150 million, only 26.3% (37 million) are enrolled in the education system (General Enrolment Ratio). China ,which had the same GER of India in the 1990s, has brought it up to 48% , the United States is at 88% and the United Kingdom is at 60%.
The Digital India campaign initiated by the government has resulted in the digital revolution; currently India, has 504 million active Internet users.
