June 3, 2017:
The political environment and the education system of the country are absolutely essential to its progress and the overall well-being of the society. It is however, complicated how they perceive each other. Education has served the political system without a doubt. After all, it is what the children are taught that ultimately shapes their outlook of the world.
Their ideologies are so strongly tied up with their personalities that they become curious to find the right answers. The political system has come a long way. From an absolute tyrannical sovereign to democracy. It is through education. Through what we have read. Through what our ancestors have left in writings for us and what they have warned us about.
And yes, the political system has returned that favor. Through constant support in the form of policies, funding, and infrastructure it has made sure that education of the nation runs smoothly. Politics has tried its best to provide for these young voters. As we shall see later, the type of political system has great influence on education quality.
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The relationship is thus mutual and it has to be that way for the society to sustain. Any loopholes that distance the two may be a threat to the very existence of this whole structure. Education consumed politics.
Political Science as we know became a field of study in itself because of the importance of the subject knowledge. Student Parties emerged as a result of inquisitiveness as well as willingness.
History tells us that during invasion or war certain things tend to happen. Men are killed. Women are raped to bring up the victor's offspring. Country's resources are exploited. And education is controlled. Burning/ banning books (or opinion at large) is an approach that the invaders use to suppress any revolutions. It is to suppress ideological opposition (political, cultural or even religious).
Knowledge is Power. Pixabay
In China, the Qin Dynasty after taking over the territory ordered for burning of books and killing of scholars. Confuscious' works were destroyed. Valuable Chinese works were burnt that time. Alexander the Great had his army burn Zoroastrian Scriptures when they invaded the Persians. During the Soviet Russia, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's works were burnt and banned from public. Solzhenitsyn was an incredible critique of the Soviet Communism that claimed millions of lives and the absolute torture that the people had to go through. To burn the books was to stop the people from enlightenment that could reveal the true nature of the system that they depend on.
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On numerous occasions, politics has controlled the quality of education to serve those holding on to power. But education has massively helped the masses in realizing their right to self-determination. Decolonization was a product of the colonized people learning that they deserve their own economic and political system. Asians and Africans learned democracy from the colonizers and fought them. Nation building too was a product of quality education.
Decolonization was a product of the colonized people learning that they deserve their own economic and political system. Asians and Africans learned democracy from the colonizers and fought them. Nation building too was a product of quality education.
School Children in rural India. Wikimedia
Today, as the society we understand the value of good education. The students expect the quality of education to be premium, and they expect this from the government. The government itself wants the product of education to comply with the political system of the country.
The quality of education varies. It varies locally, domestically and globally. The curriculum may remain standard, but the approach and methodology adopted vary to a great extent.
Here is an interesting story from India. Last year (2016) a ridiculous incident took place. A girl had topped in humanities and arts in the Bihar State Board. During the celebrations and many interviews, she fumbled. She did not even know what Political Science was. Her extravagant marks were fraudulent. The reason behind this? Corruption, political contacts and the absolute mockery of education.
After that an inquiry was done and 'sufficient measures' were taken to avoid this kind of neglect on the part of Education Ministry. The result? This year 2017, only 35% children passed the Bihar State Board Examination. 65% failed!
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The reason for highlighting this incident is to highlight the status of education quality. Children were passing through fraud. And when that approach failed, they failed. It highlights that marks are the ultimate aim of the student. Can it be the fault of the education policies?
Indian political system is often in disagreement with its universities. In the past three years, we have seen many events that highlighted the conflict between the central government and university students.
Presently, there is a debate on 'moderation policy' of central examination board that quite seriously had the students and parents sweat and stress unnecessarily. Just before the nationwide announcement of the result, a political debate started whether grace marks should be allowed or not. Just days before the result!
Students are seen participating in politics, USA. VOA news
In the USA, students are often worried about the student loans that they take for higher studies and the little scope that they have of paying it back. Students at large are demanding that interest on student loans be dropped. The university students are well active in political debates and social justice movements happening on college campuses.
The responsibility to provide good quality of education is with the government. This includes everything from policies to equality, and to combine it with further scope of employment. Education must make good leaders. After all, we are the 'Young Turks'.
– by Saksham Narula of NewsGram. Twitter: @Saksham2393