Building India's Future

Good education does not constitute memorising information and penning it down on your exam paper. Nor does it end with a college degree. Rather, it is a continuous process towards self-development and self-fulfilment. Our first step starts at school where there must exist a consistent constructive cooperation on the part of both teachers and students. We should adopt a method to impart and imbibe education that can balance mind and heart, body and spirit.

Unfortunately, the present Indian educational system belies this belief. We are seldom encouraged to achieve anything beyond completing the syllabus. As a result we only master the mechanics of passing exams, not inculcate the type of skills that are truly needed to survive in today's world. Skills such as creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, teamwork, will power, the ability to value feeling and to appreciate the importance of balanced living to name a few. This has resulted in several social deficiencies. Learners are deprived of productive guidance.

Vedic learning placed supreme importance on the Guru, who equipped his shishyas with self-sufficiency; the most important survival skill. With such a dynamic history of education behind us, it is sad that an average school student in India feels that they will fail exams if they don't memorise the answers provided by teachers at school or in tuition classes.

Efforts are being made to change the current system of education. The most prominent change is the introduction is online education. Educational portals in India are geared towards developing and implementing a new "Constructive" curriculum, innovative learning materials and dynamic professional development for teachers and administrators.

Portals like Jiva, eGurucool and Studentsguild have launched an initiative to transform India's present education system from an exam-centred one to a learner-centred. Since, there is already a precedence in the way most subjects are taught, it is obvious that change will take time and there will be a certain degree of resistance from certain sections of the academia. However, Jiva, eGurucool and Studentsguild appear absolutely unfazed by this daunting task ahead of them.

According to Steven Rudolph, Educational Director, Jiva Institute, "There's an opportunity for substantial evolution in education in India, as it possesses a volatile climate with people beckoning for the new. Not only is the system so far out of date and so ill matched for the requirements of the country, but thankfully, a common sentiment exists among virtually all Indians that change is needed. You might be aware that very little action has been taken on behalf of the government to foster such change, that few organisations exist that are striving for this change, and that there is virtually little or no support for those who are attempting to make individual initiatives."

Even seven years back, learner-centred education failed to make inroads into classrooms. Jiva failed to impress educators because they could not offer concrete and sustainable methods to perpetuate the concept. It was then Jiva turned its attention to technology, an area that had no significant tradition in the classroom, and was a burgeoning field in its own right. Within a period of 18 months Jiva developed a new IT syllabus along with textbooks. They encouraged schools to take advantage of technology as a tool for achieving a broad spectrum of standards. Textbooks happened to be the primary vehicle of delivery in the absence of skilled teachers.

Currently this constructive computer curriculum developed and implemented by Jiva Learning System is used today by more than 200 schools in 15 states. Jiva now proposes to launch India's Curriculum of Tomorrow (ICOT), which aims to: create a new set of educational standards for Classes K-1, develop high-quality textbooks for all subject classes, establish a free Internet-based software bank and provide teacher training and staff development for implementing the program.

Jiva has even brought out a teacher training program (JETS) which explains to teachers how to teach technology. It is a book-based correspondence course (three books, three workbooks, 54 hours), which teaches teachers how to integrate computers in their daily routines. This self-explanatory course not only introduces teachers to the concepts of constructivism, but also forces them to question and discuss the methodology of education and their teaching explicitly.

Study materials are a critical component, without them the burden of creating a curriculum is placed on the teachers. If this behind-the-scenes aspect is taken care of, then teachers can focus on carrying out lessons, facilitating learning, assessing students, reflecting on their teaching practices and incorporating a more cooperative mode of classroom interaction.

ICOT is supported by Rotary, Apple Computer, the Centre for Science and Environment, the Institute for Learning Centred Education, schools, boards, government bodies, NGOs and individuals both in India and abroad.

eGurucool.com and Studentsguild also propagate similar ideas like that of Jiva. Both attempt to bridge the gap between the instructions imparted in classrooms and the demands of the real world.

eGurucool.com believes that though our lifestyle is constantly undergoing change, very little progress has been made in the field of learning and skill building processes. eGurucool is out to change all that by giving online support, guidance and reassurance to young people by tapping their potential and helping them to realise their dreams. It has recently launched The Smart Study Programme for competitive success. This includes online courses for IIT, CBSE, CAT, Medical and Engineering Entrance.

Studentsguild, is meant for Indian students worldwide. According to Kurt Venkatraman, CEO, Studentsguild, this site provides opportunities 'to help students and for students to help each other.'

Both eGurucool.com and Studentsguild endeavour to make the best teachers and counsellors available to students, regardless of where they are. They provide extensive help in the area of career counselling through a host of career choices, institutes and issues around each career. Expert guidance is provided through email queries and chat sessions. Help is also provided for building resumes and finding schools and colleges at all levels. Information and guidance on studying abroad is also provided.

All these educational portals are trying to bring back the values and wisdom ingrained in the ancient Indian systems of education, with the best and latest of educational techniques. The Net, is the best medium to impart education. It eliminates the constraints of time and space from the learning process.

By harnessing the power of the Internet, these educational portals aim to provide an ideal platform for actualising India's dream of E-schools, which will place supreme importance on learner-centred education.