Education!!! Are We Truly 21st Century Oriented???

Education, as we all say, is the base for our career. We spend years and another few lakhs to gain that masters to help establish us in our respective careers. But when we look back at what we have studied at our school level, college level or in our post graduation days, we can’t help but wonder, what did we learn that we can apply to our careers?

When the entire world has progressed in terms of the education system, we, Indians still proudly follow the same education system which the Britishers had established decades ago. Yes, the system that they had implemented long long ago definitely helped us strengthen our base, but where is the upgradation which we talk about in all other fields?

I have always observed learned professionals from the education industry sharing their knowledge and experiences with students across levels. No offence to them, but somehow, I seriously noticed not too many of them have the practical angle to their teachings. Which is why it is time that we bring about not just a revolution but a paradigm shift in the overall methodologies!!! which we talk about in all other fields?

Innumerable Indians aspire to go abroad for higher studies... But why not change our own system to such an extent that India becomes a global destination for education for many. I am sure we have the potential to prove ourselves in this arena... the way we already have in several spheres. The major thing required to do so is to change the mindset. Bring in corporate partnership in education, instil the confidence that education system is not very different from the corporate world. As someone I know very closely rightly mentions, "what is the major challenge in grooming toppers and placing them in the topnotch names of the corporate world; the way it is done in the established names of the education industry. The challenge is to groom the average and the below average students and place them at respectable positions in reputed companies"

After almost 6 years in the corporate world, I now consider myself as a part of the education industry. But I always face comments like "you need to look at things differently; there is a lot of difference between education and corporate. Else people won't take you seriously". But my question is why??? I have two different reasons to pose question. One is that when we are training students for the corporate world, then why treat them in a manner different from that of the corporate world. Secondly, if a particular way of functioning is considered effective in the corporate world, then why isn't it considered effective for the industry which trains students for the corporate world. Because of such reasons, it becomes important for us to pose these questions!!!

These thoughts keep coming up in my mind on a regular basis... but does it bother you too??? If yes, what do we do about it??/ But in case the answer is no, isn't that supposed to be a concern????