Education in India as elsewhere has evolved over generations. While Gen-x feels it is all for good and in line with Global happenings, Traditionalists are not comfortable with its so called Westernisation. There is always a trade-off between Personal Priorities and Social Priorities. There is also a trade-off between Moral Value Systems and Material Aspirations.
Irrespective of Social and Personal expectations, Education is to add value to grow as one ages. Value addition begins with knowledge acquisition, the basic premise with which our Education is modelled. While being so, Education means different to different personnel and in different aspects of life.
Education & Wisdom:
Earning Degrees should necessarily transform to Wisdom. This should reflect on personal perceptions and attitude towards regular aspects of life - especially during inter-personal communications. Roles differ as we grow. Education is to back us up as we age and as our roles evolve with evolving circumstances. If number of Degrees and Level of Education is to determine level of Wisdom, then for a certain level of education it should be universal. This is an ideal expectation, though necessary. This will depend on learning and not merely qualifications.
Educationists say outcome of learning will depend on various factors, especially Socio-Economic. While this is true, need for Educational Institutions to take ISO Certifications is to be understood from such decision perspective. If Education is to guarantee Wisdom, this simply means equanimity in every aspect that influences a human upbringing, of which we are an essential part. And the World needs people with Wisdom and just not Degrees.
Education & Experience:
Many a times Experience matters over Education, while substituting one with the other may not be acceptable, at least always. It is like theoretically learning swimming or taking driving lessons - No amount of class room education can beat real, on the job experience. If Education was the one to help one succeed, we would not have had many first generation entrepreneurs who created wealth only with experience and mostly with no formal education. If highest level of Education can guarantee success, then all Learned Professors in the World are to be amongst the richest.
It is a combination of Education & Experience which helps one grow and thus help the Organisation grow. Education gives the fundamentals for one to understand and experience its usefulness. Experience many a times are reverse documented for Education purposes. Experience matters the most in business, while Education gives the extra edge to use Experience with Wisdom.
Education & Employability:
Skilling is essential to make one employable. While Skill gets the necessary opportunity, it is prudent use of education that helps to consolidate the opportunity. Yet again, it is a combination of Education & Skill that helps one to differentiate and succeed consistently, amidst chaos induced by modern education system.
Most of us opine that it is the Institutes responsibility to get employment. It should be remembered, this completely rests with an individual and his/ her own abilities. Going forward, as Society evolves into meritocratic, we believe people will also evolve as need arises. Strength of our Economy fully depends on our ability to create jobs and generate employment to widen the market base and to improve purchasing power by proper distribution of wealth.
Education & Social Responsibility:
More we get Educated, more we are to be Socially Responsible. Sometimes the modern happenings make us feel it’s the otherway around. Less educated people behaviour appeals better than more educated - probably due to decline in value systems with over exposure to technology and Westernisation. These thoughts are a result of seeing many two wheeler, educated riders not wearing helmets and four wheel passengers not wearing seat belts despite both being a law today.
Education should result in impeccable socially recognisable behaviour, bear minimum is being law abiding.
Education & Ethics:
Conundrum is simple and straight. Going by financial & regulatory failures and pollution problems, most of the highly inducing frauds are committed by very knowledgeable and educated people, affecting mostly the less privileged in the society. Despite improving Governance, most of the business failures can be attributed to purpose. There is a very thin line that differentiates Greed from ethically right. And if Education is to save the World from such happenings, making people Ethical is essential.
History says, Indian Gurukul system is by far the best Education System. Its time we revisit and adapt it for the overall benefit of Our Society.