PREFACE
The strength of any country is the aggregate knowledge of a society. This knowledge reflects in technological progress of the nation and well being of the individuals. Thus, an organized education occupies a very important attention in every country.
Education system in India is one of the largest in the world.
The developed countries have education system which are far ahead of ours.
It is a natural phenomenon that every weak person (or a country) will be enslaved and exploited by those who are stronger.
We sell our products and services for a pittance while paying a fortune for importing a product, from any of the developed countries.
Elementary Education:
Our education system was palmed off by British. We started with elementary education. That had a goal, that is literacy for all. We reached the targeted goals, in reasonable time. We have no complaints about it.
We stepped into middle and high school education. That was the logical thing to do. Then followed creation of institutions for higher learning to impart Science, Engineering and Technology. Here we failed, miserably.
A detailed analysis points to the fact that (1) these institutions grew organically from elementary education. (2) The objectives and deliverable were not defined. (3) Processes necessary were not of thought of. (4) Modelled on Elementary education, it had all ingredients for failure.
It is no surprised that our Higher education, produced dignified clerks instead of power-packed professionals.
Need for action with a sense of urgency:
There is an urgent need to effect structural changes to education system so that the public money invested do not go waste.
The average citizen of our country (as well as many other societies) are largely learning disabled. This makes them poor readers.
Poor, seeks to white collar jobs through higher education. They imitate middle class, who are closer to them.
Middle class, through white collar jobs, is assured to receiving two square meals a day. The poor, who form more than 75% of our countrymen are not assured of.
The problem is that, there are not as many white collar jobs as poor seeks to get. The result is many (99% of those) taken to higher education are jobless and frustrated.
Education, not a panacea to solve social ills:
It is unfortunate that leader after leader, mislead the poor that education can elevate them socially and economically. It is possible, who gave dead lines for eradicating poverty could not deliver. Now they show that Education is a way out of poverty.
The poor spends a fortune and chase white collar jobs. Hardly one in every hundred reach their targeted jobs. The ninety nine other, tun poorer It is possible, an education system that delivers knowledge can not only solve social ills of poor but also turn the nation into a formidable power among the few powerful nations.
In discussion with Mr Kandasamy
This book contains largely some of the edited conversation between me and Mr Kandasamy.
True to his appearance, Mr Kandasamy is an absolutely simple person. He had his education till class X, in a village school. The school, like most village schools, had very .few teachers and most of them would disappear from the school for long spells.
He did not set his foot into any college or university. Kandasamy, joined army. During his 30 years of service, he lived in various parts of the country that gave him the opportunity to learn many languages. its poor, the riches, and its rich cultures. He also knew the strength and weakness of every society in our country.
He is a great learner. It is a sad commentary that I cannot think of any one, even among highly qualified professionals whom I came across in my 40 year long career, who would match Kandasamy’s ability to learn.
We debated: (1) If everything alright with education? If not, what ails education system? (2) What all are required to be done to set it right and on its right course?
I am sure that, as you read through the following pages you will realize how correct I was in my judgment about my friend Kandasamy.
His name abbreviated in this book as
K:
N Natarajan.