Education
To the layman, Education means schooling, it's as simple as that. And from the commercial/market point of view, it a process through which "unit of labour" is produced at an industrial scale and in an organized manner so that it can meet the industry needs.
Etymologically, Education implies "to lead out".
But in a true sense, Education is not about acquiring a degree or for that matter it's not just about schooling, it's more about an experience, such an experience which encompasses curricular, co-corricular, extra-curricular activities in a way to impart a formative effect on the ability, thought-process, character of childrens.
In other words, Education is informed by ideas and ends up in practical activities. The objective of Education is to make life more meaningful, thought-provoking, etc.
Each one of us constantly seek a good life, and that is reflected through actions, aspirations. Education is that means through which a meaningful and good life can be achieved.
Status of Education sector in India
Even though linguistic education are available in India, it's not a dominant trend. India has a competitive advantge of large English speaking population.
English Proficiency Index 2022- India's rank- 52 out of 111 worldwide.
India has 250 million school going students.
Policy wise, 100% FDI through automatic route is allowed.
India's Education market is slated to grow to $225 Billion by the year 2025. It was $117 Billion in 2020.
In India, Edtech market is gaining traction and slated to grow as high as $30 Billion by 2030.
Importance of Education
- Improves financial position of an individual
- Improves the human capital of a country
- Boost tertiary sector
- Reduces societal stigma
- Helps to re-order the society based on rational thinking
Philosophical Context
Philosophically, there are three broad faculties of Education:-
(1) Naturalism
(2) Idealism
(3) Pragmatism
(1)Naturalism
The faculty of Naturalism is a strong proponent of maximizing freedom of children, and calls for breaking the shcakle of rigid framework and strict discipline.
Naturalism professes that childrens learn from the sensory expereinces when he/she comes in contact with the natural and immediate environment around it. Therefore such a natural experience of a children can not be sub-ordinated to strict discipline and rigid framework of schools.
Put simply, if the development of kids is to be realized in a true sense then the child's instincts and impulses it generates from the immediate environment should be basis of curriculum.
(2) Idealism
The faculty of idealism emphasizes the role of "Guru"- a diginified teacher. It calls for strict discipline and gives precedence to spiritual knowledge.
When a student is disciplined and is guided by the right guru, it results in exaltation of personality.
(3) Pragmatism
The faculty of pragmatism emphasizes the importance of social context. So according to pragmatic the curriculum must be informed by social context and it advocates for activity based Education.
According to Pragmatism, Education should be rather a social process based on co-operative activity between the teacher and the students.
Digital Education
Innovative use of digital tools such as gadets and other electronic equipment, together with the use of internet during teaching between the teacher the taught is called digital Education.
Advantages of Digital Education
- Accessibility, scalability, Productivity
- Improves Gender Disparity
- Reduces rural-urban gap
- Brings Efficiency
- Gives wider perspective to Education in terms of resources
Disadvantages of Digital Education
- Secutiry and privacy issue
- Limited Access
- Lack of adequate infrastructure
- Issue of digital literacy
Status of Digital Education in India
Online Education market in India is growing at a CAGR of 20%, for 2021-2025, it is expected to grow by $2.28 Billion.
After US, India has become second largest e-learning market according to KPMG.
In June 2022, Edtech platform, Physicswallah became 101st unicorn.
Digital Education vis-a-vis Traditional education
Just like any other sector is shaped by technological innovation and advancement, so as the Education sector.
Digital Education accompanied by technology brings innovation to make it scalable and reduces the rural-urban divide and truly makes Education a public good.
However traditional Education should not be viewed from the standpoint of obsolescence.
From the philosophical perspecitive we have already discussed how personality development of a children is made through a particular environment, in a social context where the mainstreaming of curriculum is supported by the auxilary elements like extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.
There are so many intangible aspects which kids do learn from peers and from a congenial school environment. For exmaple, when nationalism is taught it is not taught as an abstract subject, rather it is taught through contextualization, through role models, etc.
The physical environment and physical appearence in the school has a greater role to play when it comes to psychological development of kids. And that is where traditional education, school environment takes the center stage.
Digital Education, Online Education can definitely act as the best assistant but it should not be an attempt to replace the intangible aspects and philosophical context of Education under the grab of scalability and evoluton.
Whenever and wherever we get an opportunity to develop Human intellegence we must make effort to do so, and school and its environment is the best template for developing Human intelligence right from the tender age.
In no circumstance we can afford to sub-ordinate Human intellignece to Artifical intelligence, otherwise the purpose of Education will be defeated.
Conclusion
In a situation like global pandemic, Online Education becomes an imperative, but on any normal day, Online Education should be an important assistant, and the school envionment can not be relegated for expediency, scalability, etc. The organic development of children can only be nourished in a porper and congenial school environment.
This is my participation for the Initiative: March Monthly Prompt
Check out the above post if you are keen to participate in a particular theme of the day.
Thank you.