Closed dogmatic approach must be replaced with new open education system which imparts knowledge

By Sheshi Babu
"Education is the simply the soul of society as it passes from one generation to another"
G. K. Chesterton
T. S. Eliot started his 'Wasteland' saying "April is the cruelest month..." ( 1. The burial of the dead). But, for the students from KG to PG, the 'cruelest month' starts in March itself. They have to not only prepare for the exams, but also be prepared to rewrite exam in the event of paper leak. This has become a common feature in India where even All India examinations which recruit employees for jobs have been leaked and the officials are left with impunity.
The whole exercise of examination, thus, becomes a commercial business market for making money. Even after exams are held, the student waits with scepticism as system of evaluation is not transparent and trust worthy. While those who write well have often been failed, some who do not write well receive higher grades. There is little transparency and those who opt for taking re- evaluation have to pay heavy fee for their paper re-correction.

Examination and intelligence

The present system is heavily dependent on exam results. One exam has the potential of measuring success. The chances of bright future depend on ' merit' measured by marks obtained. Thus, one has to be ' lucky' to get good marks. This is a lopsided evaluation of a student because his/ her performance on the particular day depends upon many factors, both internal and external. The person taking exam may suffer from il-health or depressed due to uncomfortable family conditions. Also, lack of transport may affect the performance. Sometimes, the question papers have wrong queries or out-of -syllabus questions. These make evaluation complicated.

Cut- off from reality

As Mao said, (On Education - conversation with Napalese Delegation of Educationists - 1964) " Our education is fraught with problems, the most prominent is dogmatism" and further said, "... The school years are too long, courses too many and various methods of teaching unsatisfactory. The children learn textbooks and concepts which remain ( merely) textbooks and concepts: they know nothing else..." The method of teaching is by injection and not through imagination.
Indian problem is no different than Chinese educational system. Right from pre- primary schools, the main concentration is on all India exams - whether engineering or medicine. There is rote learning and mugging up in every class. The studies of science subjects are far from practical application. Humanities are cut off from reality. Students are taught theory. They do not study people and their problems. This theoretical knowledge does not help in solving realistic problems.

Alternative system

Education must be able to drive students towards solving the problems of masses. The present system is suitable to cater to the service of few elite industrialists. While science, engineering and management graduates are running to take employment with big firms, there are no takers for the subjects like arts, literature or history. The overwhelming competition to study in prestigious colleges is leading to tension among students and a few corporate colleges are 'cashing -in' on student weak points. Papers are being leaked out and sold at huge prices.
This examination system must be reviewed. A holistic system which does not consider one day exam as a means of choosing higher studies must be developed. As Mao said, " ....the class struggle is your most important subject, and it is a compulsory subject" (Talks with Mao Yuan Hsin, July 5, 1964). Thus, political education is crucial for a student to work for masses.
Exams must be educative. They should test practical questions than theoretical ones. An evaluation of a student must consider grasp of concrete problems and creativity rather than grades and marks. Everyone should be allowed to study what he/ she likes with scientifically designed syllabus.
The young generation should be able to serve people rather than a few bourgeoisie elite and industrial tycoons. Earning money has become the sole objective of education and exams have become a means of earning wealth. Students knowledge is being evaluated by the 'correctness' and 'perfectness' in exams and not the ability to serve poor or proletariat and problems related to day- to-day life.
Present closed dogmatic approach must be dispensed with and a new open education system which imparts knowledge, assists in creativity and makes students feel relaxed and elated should be introduced.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Concerns raised over move to rename MGNREGA, critics call it politically motivated

By A Representative Concerns have been raised over the Union government’s reported move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with critics describing it as a politically motivated step rather than an administrative reform. They argue that the proposed change undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and seeks to appropriate credit for a programme whose relevance has been repeatedly demonstrated, particularly during times of crisis.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

MG-NREGA: A global model still waiting to be fully implemented

By Bharat Dogra When the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA) was introduced in India nearly two decades ago, it drew worldwide attention. The reason was evident. At a time when states across much of the world were retreating from responsibility for livelihoods and welfare, the world’s second most populous country—with nearly two-thirds of its people living in rural or semi-rural areas—committed itself to guaranteeing 100 days of employment a year to its rural population.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

India’s Halal economy 'faces an uncertain future' under the new food Bill

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a decisive shift in India’s food regulation landscape by seeking to place Halal certification exclusively under government control while criminalising all private Halal certification bodies. Although the Bill claims to promote “transparency” and “standardisation,” its structure and implications raise serious concerns about religious freedom, economic marginalisation, and the systematic dismantling of a long-established, Muslim-led Halal ecosystem in India.

Women’s rights alliance seeks NCW action against Nitish Kumar over public veil incident

By A Representative An alliance of women’s rights activists has urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to initiate legal action against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over an incident at a public function in Patna that they allege amounted to a grave violation of a Muslim woman’s dignity and constitutional rights. In a detailed complaint dated December 18, the All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), part of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), sought the NCW’s immediate intervention following an episode on December 15 during the distribution of appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors in Patna.

Search This Blog