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Half of India’s 1 billion population (~500 million) are in the 5 to 24 age bracket, and over 27% of the population is under the age of 14.
No country has more young people.
No country has more young people.
India has more than 1.5 million schools, with over 250 million students, making it the largest school system in the world.
India’s education system has drastically expanded and undergone various changes since independence in 1947. However, there are still many challenges.
India’s education system has drastically expanded and undergone various changes since independence in 1947. However, there are still many challenges.
1) Poor access to high-quality education
Participation rates continue to be low, especially in rural areas. The tertiary gross enrollment ratio (i.e. any level of education pursued beyond high school) in India is 29%
Participation rates continue to be low, especially in rural areas. The tertiary gross enrollment ratio (i.e. any level of education pursued beyond high school) in India is 29%
Compared to China 54%, US 88%, Russia’s 82%, and the global average of 36%. India falls well below that.
An additional 200,000 schools, 700 universities, 35,000 colleges, and 40 million seats in vocational training centers will need to be built to meet the demand.
An additional 200,000 schools, 700 universities, 35,000 colleges, and 40 million seats in vocational training centers will need to be built to meet the demand.
Moreover, India struggles with severe funding problems, leading to a shortage of seats available at public schools. Public education spending in India trails the other four BRICS countries’ economies (Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa).
Notably, this number has gone up to 4.4% of GDP as of 2018, which is a step in the right direction, but still not enough.
FWIW, the US spends close to 7% of its GDP on education.
FWIW, the US spends close to 7% of its GDP on education.
Because of poor funding, India’s public schools have undertrained faculty, poor infrastructure, and outdated curricula. Public schools in India fall well below international standards.
India scores second to last among 50 countries in higher education system rankings.
India scores second to last among 50 countries in higher education system rankings.
This inequity has led to a majority of students enrolling in private schools – 78% of Indian colleges are privately owned, and these private schools cater to 66% of college students in India.
Beyond colleges, the same trend can be seen across all school levels.
Beyond colleges, the same trend can be seen across all school levels.
2) Fear of exams instead of Real learning
I remember my own experience going to school in India from the age of four to eight (before I moved to the US). School was heavily focused on memorization and exams, rather than exploration and learning.
I remember my own experience going to school in India from the age of four to eight (before I moved to the US). School was heavily focused on memorization and exams, rather than exploration and learning.
The combined research output of 39 federally funded Indian universities is less than that of Stanford alone.
Research and innovation investment in India is only 0.69% of GDP as compared to 2.8% in the US, 2.1% in China, 4.3% in Israel and 4.2% in South Korea.
Research and innovation investment in India is only 0.69% of GDP as compared to 2.8% in the US, 2.1% in China, 4.3% in Israel and 4.2% in South Korea.
3) Suboptimal Pupil-to-Teacher ratio
The teacher-to-student ratio in India is below that of other BRIC countries, resulting in low personalization of lessons.
The teacher-to-student ratio in India is below that of other BRIC countries, resulting in low personalization of lessons.
These are just a handful of the many challenges Indian school systems face. However, that’s not to say that everything is doom and gloom.
India is well aware of this and is taking all the right steps:
India is well aware of this and is taking all the right steps:
In July 2020, the government launched National Education Policy 2020 which implements sweeping changes across all education levels in India.
First off, the NEP changes the existing 10+2 structure of school education to a 5+3+3+4 structure (similar to the US).
First off, the NEP changes the existing 10+2 structure of school education to a 5+3+3+4 structure (similar to the US).
Moreover, the policy aims to shift from an examination-based learning toward a play and discovery based style of learning with an emphasis on the 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 and 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.
Another big reform the NEP aims to make is to promote 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦. Students will learn three languages, based on the student’s regions and personal choice, as long as at least two of the three languages are native to India.
The reform also aims massively upgrade its
𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 programs, as well many other sweeping changes, which you can read in full here.
https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf
𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 programs, as well many other sweeping changes, which you can read in full here.
https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf
Overall, the NEP wants to achieve 50% GER by 2030 (vs. 29% today) and increase public expenditures on education to 6% of GDP.
Clearly, the government is ambitious and audacious in its attempts to turn India into a 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.
Clearly, the government is ambitious and audacious in its attempts to turn India into a 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.
Beyond what the Government is doing to improve access and quality of education in India, there is something even more powerful at India’s disposal: 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬
Private companies have an opportunity to tap into this market and make a massive impact to advance the population.
Private companies have an opportunity to tap into this market and make a massive impact to advance the population.
And it is happening!
𝐄𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 in India has silently exploded in the last couple years. The biggest Ed Tech start-up in India is BYJU and is worth $12 billion. https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/15/indian-decacorn-byjus-ceo-talks-about-future-acquisitions-coronavirus-and-international-expansion/
𝐄𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 in India has silently exploded in the last couple years. The biggest Ed Tech start-up in India is BYJU and is worth $12 billion. https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/15/indian-decacorn-byjus-ceo-talks-about-future-acquisitions-coronavirus-and-international-expansion/
Besides BYJU, there are a number of others (e.g. UnaAcademy, Vedantu, toppr, Simplilearn, InterviewBit, Classplus, doubtnut, etc) that are gaining steam.
Overall, Ed Tech has a lot of potential.
Makes sense, given that Indians highly value education and are willing to spend money on it.
Makes sense, given that Indians highly value education and are willing to spend money on it.
Given that India is now the 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 major economy, outpacing China’s in terms of growth rate, modernizing its education system will give India a massive competitive advantage.
But there’s a catch...
Modernizing education isn’t enough. People also need to be employed. Unfortunately, the employment prospects of graduates in India remains dire. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/60-of-engineering-graduates-unemployed/articleshow/57698133.cms
Modernizing education isn’t enough. People also need to be employed. Unfortunately, the employment prospects of graduates in India remains dire. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/60-of-engineering-graduates-unemployed/articleshow/57698133.cms
The lack of access to high-quality education and jobs has always been a key driver for students to leave India to seek education elsewhere.
Obviously, this talent drain is not something the Indian government probably wants. So it’s not just about fixing education, but also about creating jobs in the local markets.
I have high hopes because of the rise high-growth technology startups in India. Only time will tell.
I have high hopes because of the rise high-growth technology startups in India. Only time will tell.
You can read the full post here: https://www.preethikasireddy.com/post/current-state-of-education-in-india
