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Turning back the pages of history and studying the times of the great empires of
yore, one startling fact strikes our eyes. It is but this: the superpowers of the past have all
had exceptionally good education systems, the best of their times anyway, and their youth
were able to use it to the utmost. Churning this fact in our minds for some time, we also
discover that they fell to the dust as a result of this education system of theirs falling
down in standards. It is no coincidence that the superpower of our times, the United
States has the best education system among all the countries and it is also no coincidence
that educationists feel that its standards are coming down comparative to other countries,
at the same time that other experts believe that the United States is losing its pre-eminent
position among countries.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”, said William
Butler Yeats, an Irish poet and dramatist, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century
literature. In his later years Yeats served as an Irish Senator for two terms and was a
driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival. To the consternation of educationists all
over the world, very often education as we see it is nothing but gross filling up of pails.
Education has been distorted to such an extent that interest is not generated and a dreary
practice of learning by rote has become the norm. The talents of our youth are often
censored by this process of mindless following of a singular method of education. Of
course, blind “mugging” as this process is called by few, is constructive is some ways;
but there is a time and a situation where this method should be used and I believe that it is
not being done properly at all. We would do well to fix it.
In India, the literacy rate is however a dismal 68%. The level is well below the
world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the largest illiterate
population of any nation on earth. The above statements make for a gloomy read. But
there is still hope. The 2001 census indicated a 1991-2001 decadal literacy growth of
12.63%, which is the fastest-ever on record. A 1990 study estimated that it would take
until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy at then-current rate of progress. India is
a young country now the marvelous economic growth of our country is because of this
young population. For us to take proper advantage of this, we will have to ensure that
literacy in our country reaches as high as possible. China has been able to do so and
currently enjoys a literacy rate of above 90% which is much higher than the world
average of approximately 84%. Closer home, we can take the example of Kerala. It
adopted a style which enabled "fusion between the district administration headed by its
Collector on one side and, on the other side, voluntary groups, social activists and
others". It currently has a literacy rate of above 90% too. India would certainly do well to
emulate the Kerala Government on a larger scale.
PRATHEEK PRAVEEN KUMAR
prytheek@yahoo.com