Education in India

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Education in India" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Education in India is primarily managed by the state-run public education system, which falls under the command of the government at three levels: central, state and local.^[7] Under various articles of the Indian Constitution and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, free and compulsory education is provided as a fundamental right to children aged 6 to 14. The approximate ratio of the total number of public schools to private schools in India is 10:3.^[8]

Education in India covers different levels and types of learning, such as early childhood education, primary education, secondary education, higher education, and vocational education. It varies significantly according to different factors, such as location (urban or rural), gender, caste, religion, language, and disability.

Education in India faces several challenges, including improving access, quality, and learning outcomes, reducing dropout rates, and enhancing employability. It is shaped by national and state-level policies and programmes such as the National Education Policy 2020, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, Midday Meal Scheme, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Various national and international stakeholders, including UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Bank, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and the private sector, contribute to the development of the education system.^[9][10]

Education in India is plagued by issues such as grade inflation,^[11] corruption, unaccredited institutions offering fraudulent credentials and lack of employment prospects for graduates.^[12][13] Half of all graduates in India are considered unemployable.^[14]

The foundation of English education in India can be traced back to colonial policies, notably Thomas Babington Macaulay's "Minute on Indian Education" in 1835. Macaulay advocated for creating a class of individuals who were Indian by birth but English in taste and intellect, aiming to serve as intermediaries between the British rulers and the Indian populace. This approach was designed to establish cultural dominance and facilitate administrative control. Post-independence, the continuation of English-medium education has often been seen as perpetuating the same hierarchical structures, subtly reinforcing Western cultural and ideological influence over Indian society. It has also been argued that this system restricts the independent and critical thinking abilities of Indians by promoting rote learning and foreign-centric worldviews.^[15][16][17]

In contrast, countries such as Germany, known for its engineering expertise, France, recognized for its advancements in aviation, Japan, a global leader in technology, and China, an emerging hub of high-tech innovation, conduct education primarily in their respective native languages.Even in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, where English is the native language, education is imparted in the mother tongue rather than adopting a foreign language. However, India continues to use foreign language English as the principal medium of instruction in higher education and professional domains.^[18][19][20]