India is aspiring to become an economic superpower but has an antiquated education system that is crippling generations of children. The government, corporate sector and civil society need to ensure that the young are well educated and trained.
This will augur well not just for the country’s growth but also foster global citizens. Building a nation is not the sole responsibility of government.
Corporates too need to join the cause with a long-term vision and commitment backed by new technology-based solutions for betterment of 1.2 billion Indians.
A far-reaching Right to Education Act obliges the central and State governments to provide eight years of free and compulsory education to all children aged between 6 and 14 years. However, the country is a long way from achieving that goal.
There are some clear improvements, though — in particular at the elementary level — where the Government’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan initiative has seen huge increases in primary enrolment, along with various midday meal schemes which attract economically-weaker sections of the population. But this is far from sufficient to prepare young people for productive employment.
While there are many handicaps in India’s governance system, the country has proven prowess in technology.
The mobile telecom revolution over the past decade or so overcame the long gestation of laying physical infrastructure across all States, and has put a wireless communication device in the hands of nearly 900 million people.
BROADBAND MAGIC
Can wireless broadband be made free for people to be empowered and fulfil their dream of a better life?
This needs to be debated and acted upon quickly. Such initiative will help the education sector which is grappling with poor infrastructure, low teacher skills and archaic pedagogy. It will be useful to shape innovation among students of Asia’s third largest economy.
Globally, high-speed broadband accessibility has led to a steady increase in the GDP of many nations.
Nearly 540 million Indians are under the age of 25 years. The labour force is expected to grow by 32 per cent over the next 20 years, whereas it will decline by four per cent in industrialised countries and by nearly five per cent in China.
INVEST IN EDUCATION
India’s favourable demographic profile can add significantly to its economic growth potential for the next three decades, provided its young people are educated and trained properly.
Though the country has 621 universities and 33,500 colleges comprising one of the largest networks of higher education institutes globally and second in terms of student enrolment, its gross enrolment ratio (GER) of 18.8 per cent is still less than the world average of 26 per cent.
Global experiences indicate a positive correlation between GER and economic growth. Still, India’s spends only 1.2 per cent of its gross domestic product on higher education, compared to 3.1 per cent in the US or 2.4 per cent in South Korea. The figure should be higher.
Education and nation-building should resonate in purpose and action, translate into job creation, better well-being of citizens and enhanced national confidence in a country that is truly educated, not just literate.
Businesses must focus on nurturing talent at the grassroots level as well and tackle the challenge of reaching out to economically weaker communities.
While India’s deepest malaise lies in underprivileged communities, the greatest untapped opportunity can also be found there.
Investing in education with a focus on long-term returns from these communities will ensure a sustainable model of socio-economic growth.
Grooming them into leaders will also contribute towards creating a more equitable society.
(The author is Chairman, Spice Global.)
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Opinion / by B.K. Modi, Chairman, Spice Global / July 31st, 2013