Why Education is Not the Only Path to Success in India
We do not prepare children, rather we turn them into machines that follow a single track, forgetting their creativity and dreams. They are instructed to pursue a prescribed path and end up living their lives like machines, without realizing their full potential. This approach deprives them of the opportunity to develop their unique abilities and stifles their creativity.
Education is often seen as the sole path to success in India. Many parents, schools, and society pressure children to pursue education and academic excellence, regardless of their interests and talents. However, this mindset can be limiting and harmful for many reasons.
First, education is not a guarantee of success. According to UNICEF, around 50 percent of adolescents do not complete secondary education in India, and many of those who do struggle to find employment or decent livelihoods. Moreover, the quality of education in India is often poor, with half of primary school-going children not achieving grade appropriate learning levels. Therefore, education alone cannot ensure success in a competitive and dynamic world.
Second, education is not the only source of learning and skill development. There are many other ways to acquire knowledge and abilities that can lead to success, such as vocational training, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, sports, arts, and hobbies. These alternative paths can provide opportunities for children to explore their passions, talents, and potentials, and to develop life skills such as creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience.
Some Inspirations
For example, some of the most successful people in India have achieved fame and fortune through non-academic pursuits, such as Sachin Tendulkar (cricket), A.R. Rahman (music), Ratan Tata (business), and Kiran Bedi (social service).
Third, education is not the only measure of success. Success can be defined in different ways by different people, depending on their values, goals, and aspirations. Some people may value happiness, health, relationships, or social impact more than money, fame, or power. Therefore, success should not be equated with educational qualifications or degrees, but rather with personal fulfillments and contribution to society.
Time to Change Our Mindset
Education is not the only path to success in India. While education is important and beneficial for many reasons, it should not be imposed on children as the sole option or expectation. Children should be encouraged and supported to pursue their dreams and passions, whether they are academic or non-academic. Success should be seen as a multifaceted and subjective concept that can be achieved through various means and paths.
Every day we are losing our children
One of the major causes of the pressure of education on children in India is the parental pressure for children to excel in their studies. Many parents have high expectations and aspirations for their children, and they often compare them with their peers or relatives. They also believe that education is the only way to secure a good future and a respectable status in society. However, this pressure can have negative effects on children’s mental health and well-being. According to a study by the National Crime Records Bureau, more than 10,000 students committed suicide in India in 2018 due to exam stress and failure. Moreover, many children suffer from depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other psychological disorders due to the constant pressure and fear of disappointing their parents3. Therefore, it is important to address this issue and create a supportive and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow at their own pace.
Educational Scam in Indian Society: How Fake Degrees are Ruining the Future of the Youth
Education is supposed to be a means of empowerment and enlightenment for the youth of India. However, in recent years, education has become a source of fraud and corruption, as many unscrupulous individuals and institutions have been involved in issuing fake degrees and certificates to students and job seekers. These educational scams not only cheat the students of their money and time, but also damage the credibility and quality of the education system in India.
One of the biggest educational scams in India was exposed in 2021, when Manav Bharti University (MBU) of Solan in Himachal Pradesh was found to have issued over 36,000 fake degrees to students across 17 states since 20091. The chairman of the university, Raj Kumar Rana, was arrested and his assets worth Rs 194.17 crores were attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money-laundering case1. The fake degrees were issued in various streams such as engineering, pharmacy, management, and arts, and many of them were used by the students to get jobs or admissions in other institutions.
Another educational scam that came to light in 2021 was the case of ed-tech companies luring parents and students with free services and getting them to sign electronic fund transfer (EFT) mandates or activate auto-debit options. The Union education ministry issued an advisory warning parents, students, and all stakeholders in school education to be careful while opting for online content and coaching offered by ed-tech companies.
The ministry suggested several dos and don'ts for choosing such services, such as avoiding automatic debit option, reading the terms and conditions thoroughly, doing a background check of the ed-tech company, verifying the quality and relevance of the content, activating parental controls and safety features, and not sharing personal or financial data online.
These are just some examples of the educational scams that are prevalent in Indian society. There are many other cases of fake universities, forged certificates, ghost teachers, paper leaks, admission rackets, and cheating mafias that have been reported in the past. These scams not only harm the students who fall prey to them, but also affect the reputation and standards of the genuine institutions and educators in India. They also undermine the trust and confidence of the employers and society at large in the education system.
Therefore, it is imperative to take strict action against these educational scams and prevent them from happening in the future. The government should enforce stringent laws and regulations to monitor and regulate the educational institutions and service providers. The public should also be aware and vigilant about the authenticity and quality of the education they receive or seek. The media should also play a responsible role in exposing and reporting such scams. Education is a precious asset that should not be wasted or misused by anyone. It is the right and duty of every citizen to ensure that education is a source of learning and growth, not a tool of deception and exploitation.
