Education System in India

What is the Education system in india

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Education System in India

The Indian school education system is one of the largest and most complex in the world. Education in India is contributed by the private and public sectors, with the control and funding of three levels Local, State and Central. Under the various articles of the Indian Constitution, free and compulsory education is provided as a basic right for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years.

The Indian education system is one of the oldest educational systems throughout the universe.

Do you want to know What is Education and What is the true meaning of Education? just click the link 

In the Indian education system, education for children is having 2 levels. One is School Education and another one is Higher Education.

School education

School education is divided into 3 levels  PrePrimary Education, Primary Education and Secondary Education. Again in PrePrimary Education is subdivided into 4 levels. i.e Playgroup ( Pre-Nursery ), Nursery, LKG and UKG. At the same time, Secondary education also divided into 2 levels 10th( Generally called as Matriculation or Secondary) and 12th (also called as Senior Secondary or Higher Secondary).

Higher Education will be in 3 paths. One is Vocational Education second one is University Education and the Third one is Open and Distance Education. Students can select any type of education in this based on their interest.

Pre-Primary education

  • Playgroup (pre-nursery)
  • Nursery
  • LKG
  • UKG

Primary education

Secondary education

  • 10th (Matriculation or Secondary) Exam
  • 12th (Senior Secondary or Higher Secondary) Exam

Higher Education

  • Vocational education
  • University education
  • Open and distance learning

Education System in India

School education

The Federation’s budget, 2018-1919, proposed that school education is comprehensively addressed without division from pre-school to 12th grade. The Samagra Shiksha Program – a comprehensive program for the school education sector from pre-school to grade 12 – was developed with the broader goal To improve the effectiveness of the school measured in terms of equal opportunities in education and equal learning outcomes. It consists of three schemes for

  1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA),
  2. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and
  3. Teacher education (TE)

Now coming to the education system in India, The central boards and most state boards will follow the “10+2+3” pattern of education
uniformly.

In this system, study of  Ten years is done in schools, Two years in colleges and 3 years for Degrees.

  • These 10 years further subdivided into
    • 4 years of Primary Education
    • 6 years of High School Education
  • 2 years in Junior colleges,
  • 3 years of education for a bachelor’s degree.

This pattern was granted from the recommendation of the Education Commission of 1964–66.

The education policy is prepared by the central government and state governments at the national and state levels, respectively. The National Education Policy (NPE), 1986, provided for environmental awareness, science and technology education, and the introduction of traditional elements such as yoga in the Indian secondary school system. An essential feature of the Indian secondary school system is the emphasis on the integration of disadvantaged groups into society. Professionals from institutional institutes are often called to support vocational training. Another advantage of the Indian high school system is its focus on vocational-based vocational training to help students acquire the skills necessary to find a career of their choice, and The Program of Action (Program of Action, 1992) identified strategic policy plans and called for the establishment of an independent national accreditation agency. Thus, the National Assessment and Accreditation Board (NAAC) was established in 1994 as an independent UGC institution. The NAAC mandate, as outlined in the Vision Statement, is to make quality assurance an integral part of the work of higher education institutions (HEIs).

Curriculum and Education Boards in India

School boards set school curriculum, and board-level exams are often held at the 10th and 12th levels for school diplomas. Examinations are conducted on the remaining levels (also called standard, grade or semester, denoting years of study).

  • National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
  • State Government Boards of Education
  • Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
  • Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
  • National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
  • Islamic Madrasah
  • Autonomous schools
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge International Examinations (CIB)
  • International schools
  • Special education
  • National Council for Educational Research and Training  NCERT: This is the supreme body located in New Delhi, the capital of India. The body or  Commission was established with the aim of assisting the Government at the Center and at the state level in academic matters and oversees many aspects of implementing education policies. It makes school-related issues for school education throughout India. There are other bodies of curriculum that govern the school system, especially in the state level.
  • State Government Boards of Education: Most state governments have at least one State Board of Secondary school Education. but, some states like Andhra Pradesh have more than one. Also, Union areas do not have boards. Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep and Puducherry Lakshadweep in services with a larger state. The State boards are there to set Curriculum from grades 1 to 12. This may vary from state to state and has more local appeal with tests in regional languages as well as in English – which are often less stringent than central curricula such as CBSE or ICSE / ISC. Most of these examinations are on the level of 10 and 12, and some even in board-level exams at levels 5, 6 and 8.
  • Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): This  CBSE board will set the curriculum from Grades 1 to 12 and conducts examinations at the 10th and 12th standards that are called board exams. Students studying the CBSE Curriculum take the All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE) at the end of grade 10 and All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) at the end of grade 12. Examinations are offered in Hindi and English.
  • Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE): The Council was formed to ensure appropriate representation of: the Government of India, federal / state governments with Council schools, the Inter-State Council for Anglo-Indian Education, the Association of Indian Universities, the Anglo-Indian School Heads Association, the Indian Public Schools Conference, The Association of Schools to examine indirect support costs and members of the Executive Committee of the Council.   The board for the Indian School Certificate Examinations conducts three examinations, these are..,
  1. The Indian School Certificate (ISC – ClassXII)
  2. The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE –Class X) and
  3. The Certificate in Vocational Education (CVE – Year 12).

The options and curriculum for these exams vary and aim to take care of each student’s unique gifts.

  • National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS): this is the body that Provides opportunities for interested learners by providing the following courses/programs through Open Learning Mode (ODL).
    • Secondary Education Course
    • Senior Secondary Education Course
    • Vocational Education Courses/Programmes
    • Life Enrichment Programmes
  • Open Basic Education (OBE): A program for the age group 14 years and above, adolescents and adults at levels A, B and C equivalent to classes III, V and VIII of the formal school system.
  • Islamic Madrasah: Their boards are controlled by local state governments, or autonomous, or affiliated with Darul Uloom Deoband or Darul Uloom Nadwtul Ulama.
  • Autonomous schools: Independent University usually refers to a university that exercises independent control of its daily operations and curricula. Is generally associated with universities or institutions, and implies that the sponsoring state has no control over academic matters at school. Such as Woodstock School, Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education Puducherry, Patha Bhavan and Ananda Marga Gurukula.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge International Examinations (CIB): These are usually private schools that have a double association with a member of the school board in India as well as its affiliates International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme and/or the Cambridge International Examinations (CIB).
  • International schools, International schools, which allow 10th and 12th examinations under the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Senior Secondary Examination regularities or below their home nations school boards (such as operated by foreign governments).
  • Special education: Special education: A special Integrated Education for Disabled Children (IEDC) program was begun in 1974 with a focus on primary school. But which was turned into Including Education at the Secondary Stage.

Levels of schooling 

Pre-Primary educationEducation System in India

This is the Primary stage and also an important stage for kids. The pre-primary stage is the foundation of children’s knowledge, skills and behavior. Upon completion of pre-primary education, children are sent to primary school but pre-primary education in India is not a basic right.

In rural India, primary schools are rarely available in small villages and urban areas, on the contrary. But in large cities and towns, there are many playschools established in the pre-primary education sector.

In pre-primary school, it will be subdivided into Nursery, LKG(Lower Kindergarten) and UKG(Upper Kindergarten).

  • Playgroup: In play schools, children are exposed to many primary learning activities that help them gain independence faster and develop self-help qualities such as self-catering, dressing, and hygiene. The age limit for pre-incubation admission is 2 to 3 years. Anganwadi is government-supported free rural childcare & Mothercare nutrition and learning program. This is also included the free Midday Meal Scheme to encourage the kids and parents.
  • Nursery: Nursery level exercises encourage kids to expose their talents, thus allowing them to sharpen their mental and physical capabilities. The age limit for entry into the nursery is 3 to 4 years.
  • LKG: LKG means Lower Kindergarten, It is also called the Jr. kg (Junior Kindergarten) stage. The age limit for entry in Jr.kg is 4 to 5 years.
  • UKG: UKG stands for Upper Kindergarten, It is also called the Senior Kindergarten (Sr. kg) stage. These 2 stages are essential in India to enter into primary school education. The age limit for entry in UKG is generally 5 to 6 years.

LKG and UKG stages provide and encourage children emotionally, psychologically, culturally and physically to understand information quickly in the following stages of school and college life. A well-organized process of preschool education is developed in India to reveal knowledge in the best potential way for a better understanding of young kids. By developing an easy and exciting curriculum, teachers endeavor hard to get the entire learning process enjoyable for the children.

Primary education

The Indian Government emphasizes primary education, also referred to as primary education, for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years. Because states grant education laws, primary school visits vary between Indian states. The Indian government also banned child labor to ensure that children are not in unsafe working conditions. However, it is difficult to apply free education and the ban on child labor because of economic inequality and social conditions. Primary schools run or supported by the government, making it the largest provider of education in the country.

Secondary education:

Secondary education is a link between Primary and Higher education.

Secondary education of children cover aged 12 to 18, The final two years of secondary is often called Senior Secondary, Higher Secondary (HS), or simply the “+2” grade. The two halves (Lower Secondary and Higher Secondary)of secondary education are each a vital stage for which a pass certificate is needed, and hence are affiliated by central boards of education, before one can pursue higher education, including university or professional programs.

Secondary School education in India is examination-oriented and not course-oriented. Students enroll and attend classes primarily to prepare for a centrally administered test. Senior school or high school is divided into two parts (level 9-10 and level 11-12) including a regulated nationwide examination at the end of level 10 and level 12 (usually informally referred to as “board exams”). Level 10 examination results can be used for admission into the pre-university program, Level 11-12 at a technical school or secondary school,  or a vocational. Passing a level 12 board examination leads to the granting of secondary school completion, which will be used for admission into universities or vocational schools in the country or worldwide. Most famous universities in India require pupils to pass college-administered admissions tests in addition to giving a final secondary school examination for admission into a university or college. School grades are usually not enough for college admissions in India.

10th (Matriculation)

Students receiving the class 10 examination usually take six subjects:

  1. English
  2. Mathematics
  3. Social Studies
  4. Science
  5. One language, and
  6. One optional subject depending on the availability of teachers at different schools.

“Optional subjects often include Computer Applications, Economics, Physical Education, Commerce, and Environmental Science.

12th (Higher Secondary)

Students who enroll in Grade 12 usually take four or five subjects with mandatory English or local language. Students who re-enroll in most secondary schools after grade 10 must choose to choose “primary stream” in addition to English or local language: science (mathematics / biology, chemistry, physics), commerce (accounting, business studies) and economics (Ie three from history, political science, sociology, psychology, geography depending on the school). Students study mathematics up to a single calculus in grade 12

Higher Education

The Department of Higher Education, MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource and Development), is responsible for the overall development of the necessary infrastructure of the higher education sector, in terms of policy and planning. As part of its planned development process, the Department seeks to expand access and qualitative improvement in higher education through universities, colleges, and world-class institutions.

University of Technical Education

After passing level 2 or higher secondary exam, students can enroll in general degree programs such as Bachelor’s (Graduation) in Arts, Commerce or Science, or a professional degree program such as Engineering, Law or Medicine and become a Bachelor. B. Com and BA graduates. India’s +2 level or higher education system is the third-largest system in the world, after China and the United States. The primary governing body in India is the University Grants Committee (India), which applies its standards, advises to the government, and assists coordination between the center and the state until graduation and doctoral degrees.

Open and Distance Learning

The Open and Distance Learning System (ODL) is a system where teachers and learners do not necessarily have to be in an identical place or at the same time and are flexible about the methods, timeliness of teaching and learning, as well as acceptance criteria without compromising quality considerations. The country’s ODL system consists of

the Indra Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU),

the State Open Universities (SOUs),

institutions and universities that offer education and include CCI courses at conventional double-standard universities. This has become more important for continuing education, updating skills in-service personnel, and for good awareness of learners in inappropriate educational settings.

This is the Education system in India as of now. Hope I covered most of the important topics in this article. Please give your comments or suggestions on this article so that I can cover more topics if anything is missed.

Resource: MHRD, UGC, NAACWikipedia

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