Resource-based education can check brain drain

Education may be explained as gaining knowledge systematically so as to increase one’s conscious, tune intelligence, develop power of interpretation and analysis to convert the brain into a micro-filter which retains the best of knowledge and discards the redundant.

Unfortunately, the Indian educational system fails us drastically. It is framed to earn a degree by hook or by crook aiming at earning money, and in the process, making it an industry. The talent and knowledge of a person is not fully utilised and neither the employee nor the employer is satisfied.

Today’s education can neither develop qualities in the right direction nor transform one into a true citizen. Although the government spends huge amount of money on education and training of professionals, it is still losing its talent to brain drain.

India is full of resources like soil, water, sunlight, minerals and oils, flora and fauna along with plenty of human resources and additional advantage of various climatic conditions. If we can plan an education system which can make use of these resources, people will not migrate to other places or countries for a living.

The biggest question is how to bring about this drastic change?

Learning is a slow and steady process and keeping this in view, education should be increased gradually in a systematic manner.

Classes 9 and 10 should see that students who have attained a certain amount of maturity and strong sense of national character are able to understand and appreciate the study of India’s history, geography, personalities, forests, power projects etc., along with regular courses of maths, science and literature.

In classes 11 and 12, all options should be open for students to choose from different streams.

After classes 10 or 12, tripartite system of education should be introduced in all the streams. Two-year junior diploma course after class 10, three-year diploma course after class 12 and four to five years’ degree courses should be introduced in all the streams. So far as examination system is concerned, annual examination should be jointly held at district level at class 5, and again in class 8 joint examination should be held at zonal level and finally at class 10 examination should be held at state level. At class 12, there should be an all-India examination.

At class 12, children are quite mature and foundation courses are over. This is the stage when children should get an opportunity to choose their future prospects. If at this level children are chosen for various services and are trained accordingly, they can act as the best human resource for the country’s growth.

For the overall development of a child, yoga and meditation should be made compulsory for all students up to class 12 and every school should have a playground.

Calculators and computers should not be allowed till class 12 to enable students exercise their brain. All coaching centres should be banned so that students work on their own.

Students in groups should be engaged in debates on topics and all students should be made to participate in such debates .

Students should be asked to compulsorily attend a library in their schools to develop knowledge base and improve study habits. Scout, Guide, NSS and NCC should be made compulsory in every school.

Holding hobby classes during summer vacation on art, craft, music classes, dance, science clubs etc. can develop hidden talents of children.

The government should formulate a policy to attract best of the talents with an aptitude for teaching/research at all levels of studies in PRT, TGT, and PGT and university level lecturers, professors and researchers who are the mentors of future generation.

Compulsory rigorous army training should also be given to all citizens of India for two years after Class 12 to make them physically fit for the defence of the country.

Bikram Banerjee The writer is retd. principal technical officer of the microbiology division of Central Drug Research Institute (Views are personal.)