OPINION: Can India's education reforms provide a model for the world?

Imagine educating a population larger than that of several countries combined every single day. That is the scale and responsibility of India’s education system. With over 250 million students, nearly 10 million teachers, and 1.47 million schools, India has the world’s largest education ecosystem. At a time when the success of education is no longer measured by number of enrolments, but by how well students are prepared for a rapidly changing world, India’s ongoing reforms offer valuable insights for countries seeking to address learning gaps, embrace technological change, and equip future generations with the skills needed to thrive.

Reimagining learning for the future

For many years India's focus in education has exclusively been on access, that is, providing all children with access to classrooms, regardless of where they live, what resources they have, or what their background is. However, the conversation around education is no longer solely focused on bringing children into classrooms. It has now become a dialogue regarding shifting from school to learning, from knowing to understanding and from testing to using knowledge in real-world situations.

The foundation is being created by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This policy represents a significant change in how learning is defined to be inclusive of the highest number of students (1.5 billion) in one educational system. In addition, the NEP looks to go beyond traditional educational frameworks by focusing on critical thinking, enhancing creativity, improving problem-solving capabilities, utilising experience and providing more flexibility.

The rise of holistic education

India’s education system is primarily focusing on the holistic development of the students. With academic achievement remaining as an important component in a student’s educational life, schools are now incorporating other elements of education such as sports, arts, leadership, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and emotional well-being into the overall educational experience for students. Consequently, schools aim to provide students with an education that will produce individuals who can adapt, are resilient, and are socially responsible citizens who can function well in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.

The power of language and inclusion

India has a wide range of languages and dialects that effectively contributes to its diversity. Research indicates that children will learn better when they tend to receive education in their mother language. So, a great emphasis should be laid on implementing mother-tongue-based education during the early years of their learning, as it will help in the process of understanding while also upholding the cultural identity of every student. As thousands of languages are found in India, it already proves how diversity can help multiculturalism and multilingualism go hand in hand.

Technology as an equaliser

Digital applications and platforms, virtual classrooms, AI-powered tools, and programmes like DIKSHA have narrowed the gaps that exist in access and quality throughout India's enormous and varied geography. Millions of students and teachers now can access curriculum-based instructional resources and educational materials at any scale. Although technology cannot fulfil the traditional role of human connection that exists through mentorship or pupil-teacher interaction, technology has enhanced the ability of teachers to create more equitably distributed quality learning opportunities across the entire population by using digital technologies.

Linking education with employability

One of India's most major lessons is the growing convergence between education and employability. With the advent of AI and automation technologies, students can no longer depend on traditional forms of education to gain job security. They also must learn practical skills to secure themselves in this competitive job market. New programmes implemented under the Skill India mission and stronger collaboration between academic institutions and industries have aimed to equip students transitioning from education to employment.

Lessons beyond India's borders

Educational reform in India is a continuous process and still has many difficulties to overcome. Improving student success by enhancing learning outcomes, creating strong teaching capacities, decreasing inequalities and preparing students for jobs that do not yet exist remain significant challenges.

However, given the vastness of the changes taking place in the Indian education system, there are many lessons that other countries can learn from India’s quest to develop a new model of learning at scale. Future systems will incorporate the use of experiential learning, developing skills, developing flexibility, and providing additional opportunities to students to succeed.

As classrooms become creative, collaborative, and modernised, the blueprint constructed for the educational system in India should serve as a reminder to everyone involved within the educational sector that the real value of a nation’s educational system is found in the potential of the student and how many students are receiving the opportunity to participate.

The author is chairperson, SAI International Education Group.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.