How can we make educational systems adapt to address the needs of tomorrow?

Question

How do we make it more inclusive, accessible & attract the right minds for the right disciplines?
The educational system in any country is both a social and economic necessity. However it is also a system that is not easy to change. The impact of any changes takes a long time to realize. The current economic growth, both at local and global levels, has created a huge demand for resources with various skills and capabilities. But the question remains - are we doing enough, are we doing the right things?

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Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Education is true answer for today’s needs of the industry as well as people and society. As the factor that impacts social and economical face of the country, education system must change from time to time. It is a fact that our education system requires total re-hauling and that calls for a champion from top people in government with all sincerity and budget allocation.

Before we discuss what steps to be taken to reform the system, I would like to advise that education should become a centre subject for governing and regulating purpose and be removed from the state subject.


Some of the moves that can be initiated to reform the education system are as follows:

1. Primary education should be standardized and made it compulsory with total government funding. No private organizations should be allowed at this phase of education.

2. Secondary education can be offered both by government and private institutes. However, it should be standardized across the country without boundaries.

3. Higher education should be imparted by autonomous institutes that work under the guidance and control of educators, citizen’s bodies and industry. Curriculum should be designed by these combined group to make students industry-fit depending on the discipline they choose.

4. Higher education should aim at developing human resources that are ready to take up tasks assigned by their employers. That means, a student graduated from a university should be able to get into a job and be able to work with minimal training by the employer.

5. All teachers at secondary and higher levels of education should attend seminars to update their knowledge levels to match current trends. They should be even asked to take qualification tests to substantiate their capabilities and current knowledge.

6. The compensation to the teachers at secondary and higher education levels should have an incentive component to encourage them updating their knowledge and also impart education in the recommended standards. Industry could sponsor such initiatives and government should encourage industry.

7. The current practice of a 3 hour examination at the end of a full year of study is not only meaningless, but also produces useless graduates. The examination system to award certification has to be changed totally. It has to be a combination of on job and class room tests conducted at frequent intervals.

8. To help students taking up higher education, a public information system should be provided to advise them and counsel them on the opportunities available for such courses and compatibility of the individual to those courses. This will help bringing up right people at right jobs.

9. Industry should be able to use students on part-time jobs or summer job etc, thus helping the students financially and also giving exposure to real time industry before they are graduated. This will help producing people who can readily take up jobs on completion of their education.

10. It should be made mandatory for higher educational institutes to invite industry experts to visit and teach on critical subjects for a certain number of hours in each course.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Great answer. Thanks.

Answer 2

The right thing will only work if the parents are educated. Do not get pregnant or impregnate someone if your not a HS graduate.

Answer 3

1....the 'need(s)' of students differ from
society,
economy'
school'...
2....the schooling & the education differ
3....the students should be provided with the everyday situations, everyday needs of the time.
4....the schooling of the students should be to educate them in broader prespective rather than social or economical ...
5....educate them to think, scrutinize, analyse the situations and use the means & ways for acquaint changes
6....train them to work for problem-solving for 'every problem has a solution'

Answer 4

We have to make our eduction system more PRACTICAL they should be based on one's skill and not based on specific topics .

Answer 5

It is the duty of teachers to look into the each and every student of his class and find the real talent make aware about their talent.
It help the student to choose his carrier very early and make the education system uptodate

Answer 6

There has to be a greater sense of national pride.
Education should also address the morals and manners of the individual.Good character makes you a better person and a nation of better people will address the needs of our country with the right sense, sensibility and integrity.
We need the sincerity of purpose to see positive change. We are a country rich in manpower, heritage and resources but we lack the drive and sense to use our strengths in the right direction and perspective.
There must a urgent need in the educational system to impress these and it must motivate the present and next generation to look forward to growth and stability.
The vision is there for a bright India we are at present not looking at its direction if we do see the vision then we will be the gratest nation on earth and will remain so from generation to generation.

Answer 7

I think that all the principals of the schools along with a few representatives from the parents clan should form a committee and visit all the places which are the major providers of employment in the present age. They should then chart out a plan and create a syllabus that would enable their children to be prepared to choose a career of their own.

Answer 8

the best way wd b to introduce vocational courses with more practical based teaching.
various aptitude tests can help us understand the inclination/intrest of a student which can be used to suggest appropriate choices and accordinly develop skills.
Going with the present education system we can create only doctors and engineers who can still be employed/used as marketing executives.

Answer 9

For making our educational system better, we need to start from improving education in rural India where most of our population still live. If you happen to visit a primary school in such area, you may find lack of teachers, basic amenities, poor infrastructure, even in most of the places there are no place to sit for students.

Another big hurdle is that people find no moral incentive for sending their children to schools and the irony is that no NGO are taking this as an opportunity to bring about some change in society.

For bringing about any change in our education system, lets start from the bottom of the pyramid and see how it moves up the ladder. As rightly said by Nandan, it may take long to realize, but its not impossible.

Answer 10

The main problem wit our educational system is that, it is based on the concept of exams.
Where a whole years of education boils down to a mere 3 hour exam!!!!
Instead of focusing on the concept of exams, We can make the educational system a complete institution of self improvement,
because according to me everyone has their own strengths and weakness.
Instead of only concentrating on studying only for the sole purpose of exams, It should be implemented in day to day lives.

Let the students choose wats best for them, Let them think out of the box. Be un-conventional.
Innovate, Invent and Re-invent.

Answer 11

i highly appreciate this question,however here is a million dollar answer for your precious question,inorder to improve the educational system so that it catters the need of tomorrow is neither by providing good education nor by giving good mentors the only thing they should be emphasised is on practical training,how to handle situations in practical world,increase their logical and critical reasoning skills,which are highly beneficial not only in software industry but also in any other field in which the youngster have to choose.......

Answer 12

i feel that it is better if the parents along with the studens are given education.
So,they are the best guides of their children.
And ther shold be a committe to update the regulations.

Answer 13

This is an excellent question but something that probably folks have been reviewing time and again globally. In my opinion, in todays times - its best to have a three step approach:
1. Perform a SWOT analysis - very similar to as with any new idea. - What are the strengths, the Weaknesses, the related Opportunities and the corresponding Threats. This will provide a very clear picture of what we have today and what we can achieve practically.
2. Introduce technology and technological advancements early into the education system. This will give a good idea to the children about the overall evolution in the world and help them understand and decide what they really want to do.
3. As we have all learnt - every body in the universe tends to take the path of least resistance - so with education - there is no easy way or less resistance formula. The education system should be made such that learning becomes mandatory in the schools and testing is done so periodically that it helps the students stay up-to-date, with everything.

Well - that is my humble opinion and if anybody doesn't concur with this or doesn't like it, I apologize for that.

Source(s):

my own 2 cents !

Answer 14

Sir,
i believe the best way one would learn to deal with tomorrow is by Learning How U deal with TODAY. if You go through any school curriculum in India You would find most subjects dry and uninteresting... the fun is squeezed out of learning and Mugging or By Hearting as they so put it happens to be something most teachers infuse into their students. our entire primary and secondary education seems to revolve around learning things By Heart.. and to be very honest Sir... i think that system stinks... Children should be taught to think for themselves. when every child is different why is everyone struggling to Cookie cut them and make them think alike?
give them some room for imagination... WITHOUT COMPETITION. that way no one looses and everyone is a winner. this world was not meant for everyone to be stereotyped... so please... let them be Children.. play in the Mud... for Crying out loud-thats what soap and water was invented for!!!
Sir... all im trying to say Sir is Give Our Children space to grow.

Source(s):

My Mother is a Kindergarten teacher(38 years of experience)
runs Her own play school.
Im a Dentist..

Answer 15

For me, no one can visualize tomm and we can just dream for it.

At present we may nt be able to catch up with the demand of resources needed, just coz of the involment of students always in the technology at boom in present rather than visulaizing for future.

In case we need to meet the needs of tomm, it all shld start from the top rather than from the bootom, i mean the Big Guns should message and assure the students for the demand in technolgy in coming future, also they have to present that in practical manner..... So that the interests among the students grow up.

Secondly the teachers in schools and universities should not keep students just in notebooks and examination fewers, they are the only mind readers or the students at school level.

They also had to contribute for all by presenting practically and more catchable manner.

At last
"We can catch the future , iff we can dream".

Answer 16

Religion and Science are both pretty much like positive and negative current. Bringing them together can be the most challenging thing that anyone can indulge in this planet. Just like any other social change, this definitely cannot happen over night but may take decades or even centuries. The biggest hurdle is that religion is still a highly contentious topic which cannot be talked about freely in the public or at work place. Many people are still not educated and open minded enough to listen to other people's views and opinion on religion. Many still think that religion is something that just needs to be followed and not questioned. So there are numerous misconceptions about religion. As long as this kind of closed minded attitude exist with people it will be hard to bring science topics closer to religion. People will tend to shut your explanation about science the moment you violate any religious beliefs, principles or ideals or followings. Thus religious belief itself can be a barrier to you creating a mental block in you leading you to a false belief. It can prevent your mind to think freely and accept newer truths and knowledge in this planet. So human beings have to go through considerable amount of mindset change before a merger can happen between religion and science.

Answer 17

The educational system in india is a bit of a paradox. On one hand it is quite orthodox and coupled with a deep rooted culture some shining examples of traditional education emerge every now and then. On the other hand the same orthodox system hampers effectual education in an increasingly complex and changing world.
The problem is that the rest of the world and even India is now evolving at a rapid pace. Lets hope that the whos who of India have now recognised that the economic boom in india is not the same as China. China among other things owes its economic boom to an industrial revolution bourne on the shoulders of factory and dicipline. India on the other hand has shown a growth bourne on intellectual/professional work and trade. Im sure these are very simplified outlooks but so is the concept that a single factor like education can be a solution to a complex situation.
Be that as it may, Education has and will play a dominant role in determining the future of our country. The key word in education should be: Relevance.
Only relevant knowledge is good education. Irrelevant data is ineffective and cumbersome. It will slow down and hamper the progress of an individual. It can be confusing and demoralising.
A good education system must identify knowledge which is relevant to the current and future condition of the country. Older archiac systems must be rehauled, obsolete and cumbersome detail discarded. the curriculum should be reveiwed and subjects edited for the level of the student. For example: There is no point teaching calculus and advanced mathematics to a cohort who have not yet differentiated into arts, medicine, mathematical sciences or life sciences. Irrelevant information imparted and tested at this level will hamper the individual who must progress to his speciality before challenged with specific skill/tasks.
It should also strive to be relevant to the individual pupil. If a subject is not the strong point of the pupil it must first be focused upon and then gradually phased out while the individual strengths of the pupil are brought to the foreground.
It is obvious that the present system believes that all individuals can be taught as a group stratified only as standards of success at an inflexible and sterotyped testing system. This would be as intellegent as auditing the processes of a financial company using tools used for the fashon industry. The education system must evolve to be able to adapt around the needs of the society and the students it serves.
1. Heads of different sectors must have a role in guiding the educational system
2 Business studies, basic finance and commerece must be a part of the curriculum
3. Professional and career advice should be bulit into the system
4. A subject should introduce the demographic, socioeconomic, trade and cultural characteristics of india.
5. Leaders of different sectors should meet in an regular fashion to discuss education and provide feedback to the relevant authorities.
6. Competition must always be encouraged at all levels of selection. Any reservation or concession only weakens the selection process. All levels of jobs must be 100% anonymous, fair and equal to all individuals with nither positive nor negative discrimination

Answer 18

many wonderful and beautiful and successful approaches are being followed by countries where our students r going out to purseue higher education.................we can learn from those methods and implement here...........and make this disfunctional and confused part of the scociety the real strength of the soceity

Answer 19

Nandanmam, ur question is someting which hs been the subject of debates and seminars and i'm sure at least 90 percetn must have said tht the system needs to be overhauled. Teachers and students alike agree that the system should be such that a student when he/ she steps out of school/college should be ready theoretically and practically for the job he /she wants to take. So naturally the skills taught should be such. Right now a graduate (a degree is a minimum for any job now) has a degree but hardly any skills which he/she can put to use. Except probably commerce faculty. ( I am not including the engineering and other professional degrees for the obvious reason that they are supposed to be practical) So every one has to do some job oriented course after or simultaneously with the course. Which makes the degree redundant. The only way it would be useful is if skills can be taught to suit the industry the student chooses. This could be at 10th level or 12th level. Instead of making a student of commerce study economics which he may not be interested, he could use auditing skills, a student of arts instead of geography/political science could learn say language translation skills which could help in the job market. This is now to be learnt as a certificate course and apart from syllabus. This would be a great thing.

Answer 20

basically we have to understand the system & according to that we have to adopt the changes in our education system as well as
we have to participate or to monitor timely the changes happen
in the system

Answer 21

Just was wondering about it when I was back in Mumbai in Jan .When I had a chance to talk to young people .Something was not right , they said " Boss, money criteria anything will do even a call center job end of the day rokda ( cash ) is was I am concerned . It just felt bad ,what was happening. Globally India is addressed as the one thats going to have a great impact . Somethings missing in Colleges and schools the kind of values and the contribution towards society .Adding to that my time I ended paying 25000 Rs for a Engineering seat in Dharwad , but now its about 5 to 6 times or more for a seat.Education is becoming expensive . Secondly when I was out from College .Something was missing ,what we had learned thru books does not make you competent enough to meet Industrial demands .You are not exposed to demands of this Mechanical /Digital world . It takes a hell lot of experience effort and skill to be competent enough .I am a Electrical Engr by profession coming from a middle class backdrop .What I missed was a serious career guidance and lack of competitiveness during my young days .Encouragement level was missing , parents are more caught up trying to make ends meat .Your basic schooling where your core starts needs a serious significant change on how its gone shape us . But in a class room of 65 students ,how will one able to get complete or say 45 to 50 % attention .My parents put me thru coaching and what not , but I was just busy playing even during exam days .Nothing attracted me to study or be at college .I graduated with 60 % during my final Engineering and then started up with a basic salary of 2000 in 1996 .Now I am currently in Norway still trying to look for satisfaction in work .Sometimes the thought just kills me , why the hell I did not take up education seriously .But there wasn't anyone to guide me in the right way during my time .Education is the key to unlock your future .I have not been so bad after all , have managed to gain some grounds , but a considerable time was lost .Its hard to make up for it .

Answer 22

I was a teacher in VNIT previously VRCE Nagpur. My department was Architecture & Planning.
when you talk of educational system it mainly covers the faculty in all the subjects. The main problem is the faculty available in most of the institutions is not up to the mark. I mean their very selection is not proper. If we all go back to 25 to 30 years we would have solved this problem through the type of faculty available then.
my observation as a teacher for 30 years is the teachers are not very much intrested in their own job when I say this I mean they are around 75% of the available staff. It is some thing to take a music lession from a guru the Guru must know music i am sorry but want to say number of them even donot know the ABC of teaching. They cover the subject, they ask the questions, they value them and pass the students. Many good students are the product of their own efforts or some one who are really good but refused to go for teaching have given few good tips.
I do't know whether I have answered the question but still i feel this question of yours will have very less to do if we have good teachers in the system.
Prof Deo Anant

Source(s):

Self Experience

Answer 23

I guess over burdening children by educating them in all fields have to changed...
Children should be allowed to choose the field they are interested in and involve them selves in tat subject...
only basics of all fileds should be given emphasis ,so that student is able to make a choice from....
Stress of education have to removed and learning should be made a joyfull process...

Answer 24

If our assumption is it cannot meet tomorrow's needs, then we need to have 360 degree approach.
1. Adult literacy and Child literacy should be breded in tandem- This is to make India a fertile ground for Education, in other words make an environment which is conducive for Education.
2. Make people convince that change is the constant.
3. Design curriculum that really explains not just theories but give pragmatic - approach.
4. Make more hands on exercises. More Vocational courses to be conducted. India has got only 97 courses out of 2500 in the world.
5. Breed innovation.
6. Make sure that " learning is the process of learning how to learn things".
7. Academia and Industry work in tandem and in collaboration with Governing bodies , R&D and with Gloabl organisations.
8. Thought leadership - Various leaders - Political, Social, Business etc., should be able to foresee the emerging trends and thus far lead the necessary change in the system.
9. Breed more Teachers, Lecturers, Professors - In other words we need to have strong career paths for these professions.
10. Privitaise the education system with adequalte quality checks and balances in place- which should be governed by independent bodies.

Source(s):

Thru Yahoo

Answer 25

Well, I have just one simple thing to suggest:

The management of any school should invite a professional guy and have him deliver a interactive session to all the students ... by professional guy I mean any professional guy from any industry ... the guy need not be top position guy ... any professional guy who has some 4 to 5 years of good experience !!

Well the management of the school should also attend and take note of the things and try to pick up some points and put them to practical !!!

Answer 26

We can make educational system adapt to address the needs of tomorrow by building schools and colleges as per the society and the industry norms where students are enrolled on the basis of their interest in the particular field and awareness must be created among the students in their early stage of life about all available options of career opporutnities so that they can develop interest in the science and technology and become a integral part of this country and world.

Answer 27

mmmm. Interesting answers.

The question is soooo complicated that, I don't think the Education Minister's office will ever figure it out.!

Lets watch and see.

Answer 28

Our ed., system lacks in giving priority to the practical work. They always give priority to the written work. Children of our country are very smart. They usually do all the work that makes them exited in a very proffessional way that we elders even hecitate tohandle, due to the fear about its procedure&result. System of ed., has to be changed.Studies has to be made career oriented. Unnessassary lessons has to be deleted every time(year). Compelling them to study lessons that doesnot interest them has to be stopped. Give them a gist about a topic, ask them to continue that if they want- otherwise switchon to the next one . for eg., a lesson on photography attracts some but a lesson on parasites may intrest other. Make them to do a project on their choice by refering lib., books, taking guidence of their teacher &so on,.,.By this the Ist may become a photographer and so on.Teaching the language is also very important . Nowadays even big schools student finds difficult to write a para in their medium of language. This has to changed. Personality devolepment& communication skills has to be taught in the value ed., class.Presenting their skills has to be taught, guided,encouraged and molded.

Answer 29

Making education job oriented by teaching different skills.

Answer 30

We are not doing enough. We are doing only 10% right
and 90% wrong, With the advancement of technology in
late 80s, the concept of education system has gone a
dramatical change. For making a nurtured society/nation,
the education system has to be revamped totally, to make
the young generation to understand the strength and weakness
of our nation - availability of natural resources, preservation
of such resources with the help of technology,
and to adapt the technology for the betterment of weaker sections. And also the need of young generation to get involved in understanding technology changes around the world and to make use of the same in a right manner keeping in mind the
geographical advantage of our nation.
If such mind set could be injected to elementary
education with the help of visionary teachers (hardly we can
find now a days), the goal is not far away.

Answer 31

Education is about learning to live and to make a living, I stress learning to live first, as that's more important, unfortunately we are training kids only to learn to make a living. Value education and dealing with our human self's is what needs to learnt by all, the stress should be on becoming a good loving human being to learn to enjoy life as well, making money is important but creating a less stress full life for everyone in society require us to do away with unnecessary competition and other negative human traits such as jealousy and selfishness. Education should teach us to be socially and environmentally sensitive, this will invoke intelligence on its own. knowledge and proffessional learning will then have its right full place as nessassary but not stressfull.