Pearls of Wisdom: US Economist On Indian Education

The silliest India commentary comes from Indians in the West. Usually. Exceptions apart.

Indian education system has been a matter of interest for the last 10 years at least. (Cartoon by Stuart Carlson, 2005).

The failure of the Indian education system must count as the Indian government’s greatest failure. Over 90 per cent of students drop out of school by the 12th grade; only 6 per cent go on to tertiary education, to cite just one dismal statistic. (via Swiping without reading – Indian Express).

Amusing

Cut your nose, to spite your face.

A product of Indian education system, at least partially, Atanu Dey lacks the grace to admit his debt. Even if he lacks the grace, he must be honest to admit his ignorance and /or expertise. Atanu Dey, by implication, is implying that other State education systems are better.

For instance, that of the USA.

Which is simply not a fact. At least from 1983, during the time President Reagan, the state of the US education system has been a matter of great concern. And if he not implying that, he must state how things are equally bad in the rest of the world.

Why just pick on India.

This may not quite be the State of US Education - but only an anecdote.

Numbers talk

Another angle.

Remember the US is dealing with around 50 million children in the US school system.

And India?

Dealing with 500 million of chidren, is the task that the Indian education system has to handle.

US is the largest economy  of the world. India is 10% of the US economy (in nominal terms). Little more actually.

So, we are talking of a 1000% bigger task with 10% of the GDP. Roughly. Exact numbers will be somewhat different.

Size matters – in case Atanu Dey forgets.

Interestingly, there are some 500 Indian teacher’s in Japan, teaching children, using methods that the Japanese want to learn.

From Indian teachers.

What Atanu Dey does not know or forgets

The issues with Indian education are really the use of English language in higher education. English language closes doors to higher education, for all native language users – which is roughly 90% of India.

The other related question is how long will the dominance of English language last? What after that. Now, these are questions that Atanu Dey should ask and answer.

Being an economist?

US education is 'blinkered' seems to be the popular opinion. (Cartoonist - David Horsey; 2008 cartoon). Click for larger image.

I am not forgetting

The real issue is the delivery model for education that the world must adopt.

The answer, my friend (figure of speech!) is what Shri (Sir) Philip Hartog, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (then Dacca) learnt from Gandhiji.

Something that research by Dharampal confirmed – and of late, a British researcher discovered again.

Indian private sector education model is the best.

Related articles

• “Transforming India” by Atanu Dey (offstumped.in)