PISA
(Program for International Students Assessment) is an international study that
was launched by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development)
in 1997. It aims to evaluate education systems worldwide every 3 years by
assessing 15 year old students in the key subjects of science, mathematics and
reading.
The
PISA results were recently out and it was shocking to see India landing on the
2nd last position among 73 countries that participated. However, it wasn’t
shocking to those whose children go to the Indian schools. It was told that the
results are not a reflection of Indian’s poor state of schooling. Instead the failure
has been certified to a cultural disconnect between the questions and Indian
students.
This
shows the quality of education that is provided to the students in India. Schools
are strictly controlled in such a way that the students score high marks in
examinations. In fact they study for only exams and not to develop themselves,
to think or to analyse. The fact is that the quality and quantity of education
in India is pathetic. Never ever is there any focus on practical learning. Whereas,
science is all about learning theories, with there being no facility to visit science
centres to see the theories work in practise. Not only this but the evaluation
of marks for certain subjects and the quantity of syllabus included for certain
marks are not proportional.
This
incident should be considered as an eye opener. Our Indian Constitution talks
of the fundamental Right of Education to every Indian. The government should
look into improvising the educational standards. If merely being able to write
one’s own name makes one literate, then that’s not going to be enough in this
rising world.
