Introduction
The education system in India is a product of both time and history. Starting from the gurukuls to the development of the modern education system, we have come across ages. The development of the modern educational system was a product of British rule. Post independence, we saw the birth of new colleges in the form of IITs and NITs. They gave a new impetus to the education system in India. Post liberalization, a network of private colleges was established and the fabric of education became much more diverse than ever before. In the present times, the ecosystem of education is commanded by technological advancement and new education models. Different types of colleges including aktu affiliated colleges have been particularly successful on account of new education models, policies and technological advances.
Glimpses of future
That said, the future of the education system in India would be influenced by technological innovation as well as other research aspects. This article looks at the future of the education system in India from four different perspectives. Firstly, it looks at the education models that are necessary to reorient the future of education. Secondly, it looks into the potential of the new education policy in transforming the education system in India. The third aspect looks into the influence of technology and the final aspect looks at advanced technologies like metaverse in shaping the education system in India.
Education models
There are a number of education models that would transform the future of education in India. One of the prominent examples is provided by the Reggio Emilia model. This model focus is on development of self induced capabilities in the students. It focuses on learning as a two way process in which teachers not only give instructions to the students but also take inputs from them. In this way, learning becomes more collaborative as well as immersive in nature. This model treats students as equal participants in the learning process and departs from the traditional subject-object relationship.
Another important education model that is developing in the present time is the Libre model. This has been promoted by the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education and Peace for sustainable development that is supported by UNESCO. It lays focus on social and emotional learning. There are three prime aspects of learning that it focuses on. These include empathy, tolerance and compassion.
In this way, the future of education is being shaped by new education models that are sympathetic and empathetic in nature in addition to being technology oriented.
The New education policy, 2020
The new education policy 2020 is a watershed moment in the Indian educational system. It improves upon the educational policies of 1968 and 1986. It is based on the recommendations of the Kasturirangan committee and also incorporates recommendations of the TSR Subramaniam committee. It proposes a new educational framework in the form of a 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 system that drifts away from the traditional 10 + 2 approach. It also focuses on novel learning pedagogies as well as learning outcomes. It has a section that was created towards a holistic assessment system in the form of Parakh. At the higher education system, it eliminates the need of having an MPHIL degree to enter into the doctorate level. It also pushes for a direct PHD after a 4 year undergraduate degree course. In this way, it moves towards a flexible and inclusive system of education that has widespread and prospective ramifications.
Influence of technology
The role of technology in shaping the future of the education system in India is much more prominent than any other factor. We are slowly moving towards an online system of education that is much more analytical and advanced than the traditional form of education.
The reports on student performance, data analytics and other features have made technology an inevitable part of the education system. The future of the education system in India is aligned with new technologies like augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality. It is believed that such technologies would increase the depth of learning and make the educational system more comprehensive in nature.
The birth of metaverse
The birth of metaverse has given alternative pathways to explore the future of the education system. In fact, a virtual university called metaversity has come into existence recently. It provides distance learning courses in an online mode but the experience provided to the students is perfectly aligned with the physical world. Although the classrooms are animated, it proves that virtual platforms can act as a substitute to the learning system that is currently practiced in the country.
Read More: Education during a pandemic.
