Article: Education in new India

Vocational training and education should be as much a part of a child’s school education as other conventional subjects. Degrees in music, food, dance, photography, filmmaking etc are not really encouraged in Indian schools, let alone given any importance to. They are considered more as extracurricular activities instead of full fledged professions that people could make a successful career in. It’s because of the same reason that in classes after 10th, teachers and parents tell you to focus on studies to crack an examination that will fetch you a stable career instead of ‘wasting’ time on sports or other activities. As we grow older, they are seen as hobbies and passions that help you to cool off when you finish after a long day at work or to connect with yourself in chaos. But it’s important for teachers to emphasise to kids in schools that they have a lot of career options that are not taught in school or they haven’t been exposed to yet, that they can actually excel in. Even the idea of getting a vocational degree after school should be encouraged as being equal to an academic degree. When we talk about providing kids a #holistic education and the ability to become self-learners for life, learning about all trades and disciplines is vital to not have a narrow-minded approach towards choosing a career and a life. But India and Indians have a long way to go before this change in mindset could occur. Why? . . . Have we created constructs in our mindsets that if your profession isn’t related to something you study for, it is not going to provide for your living? Are teachers and the education system at a fault for pushing careers that give financial stability to students (through subjects) instead of pushing vocations that require talent? Have we created enough opportunities around specialized vocations as there are around well-established professions? Will the number of students opting for these vocations increase when the opportunities and salaries come at par with their conventional counterparts? We will succeed in this mission only when a child in class 10th can decide to have a career in say, baking or fashion photography. For students to make the right choices for themselves, exposure to everything at an early age is extremely important, specially through school-based learning. How would you know you don’t want to do something unless you’ve tried it?

#learning #education #neweducationpolicy