Most people believe that India is currently one of the developing countries, which means that not enough attention is paid to education. In fact, this statement is completely false. India has already come out of that unpleasant economic situation, and the country's educational institutions are now providing the highest level of education. Many people know that this country has a rich historical heritage. Previously, India occupied a leading position in the educational services market. The country then experienced a difficult period that ended several decades ago. A lot of attention is paid to education in India; the state needs highly qualified specialists more than ever.
History of education
When talking about studying in this country, it is impossible to ignore the topic of history. As you know, India was the largest cultural and educational center in the world. In 700 BC. e. it was here that the first university was founded. In India, the beginnings of such serious sciences as algebra and trigonometry were laid. On the territory of this country, Sanskrit (an ancient literary language) was created, which became the basis of many other European languages.
The history of education in India is so diverse and vast that it would not take forever to study everything. The art of navigation was born here. Oddly enough, this is where the word that now sounds like “navigation” came from. In those days it sounded “navgatih”, which translated means “ship navigation”.
Education in Ancient India was considered to be of the highest quality at that time. A local scientist, Shridharacharya, introduced the concept of quadratic equations. Every year discoveries were made, which today are a very valuable asset.
Preschool education
It is worth noting that kindergartens, as we understand them, do not exist in this country. In India, it is customary for the mother to sit with the child until a certain age and teach him. This tradition dates back to ancient times and is diligently followed.
However, recently, due to the fact that both parents are forced to work, there is simply no one to leave the child with. Therefore, certain groups began to be created at preparatory schools. They are divided according to the age of the children and the time the pupils spent in them. Usually kids spend several hours there, learning while playing with the teacher.
In most cases, if a child is a member of one of these groups, he goes to the school where it was created. Then parents do not need to waste their time choosing an educational institution. Preschool education in India is represented only by these groups, which not all children attend.
Schools
The country has a law that stipulates that all citizens, regardless of social status, must receive basic secondary education. There are a number of free public schools here, but it is still recommended to send your child to a private institution. This is due to the quality of education, the level of which is much higher in prestigious schools. The cost of such pleasure will be approximately $100 per month.
The education system in India is structured in such a way that completion of 10th grade is mandatory. Children enter school at the age of 4 and are educated until they are 14. Then those who choose to continue their education enter high school for 2 years.
The peculiarity of private institutions is their emphasis on language skills. They teach not only Hindi, but also English. Moreover, after graduating from school, the child speaks both languages fluently.
Higher Education in India
In this country there are 3 levels of higher education: bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The duration of training directly depends on the chosen specialty. So, if you want to become an expert in the field of trading, you will have to study for three years. And the training period for obtaining a specialty in medicine or agriculture is four years. To enter a higher education institution for any of the programs, you must have a certificate of complete secondary education. After completing a bachelor's degree, there is the opportunity to study for a master's degree.
The most popular majors at Indian universities are information technology, management, jewelry making and pharmacology. For local residents, training can be free. As for foreign students, they are provided with a budget only if they have a grant. The price of education, compared to European universities, is low. To study at the most prestigious higher education institution, you need to pay $15,000 per year. Distance education has become very popular here.
The best universities in the country
India ranks third in the world in the number of higher education institutions, with more than 200 institutions, where about six million people study. Each university has its own peculiarity that sets it apart from others. Education in India is reaching a new level precisely because of the uniqueness of its institutions.
One of the oldest universities is Nalanda University. It was founded in the fifth century AD. e. Recently, reconstruction took place, and until 2020 there will be 7 faculties operating there. Rajasthan University produces the best specialists in the field of agriculture.
One of the leading universities in India is the M. Gandhi University. This university has the best teachers. Here you can get a specialty in the following programs: medicine, physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, philosophy, etc. The level of education in India is quite high thanks to such educational institutions.
How is the educational process going?
The main feature of education in this country is that it is taught in English. Almost all educational institutions in India use this language to communicate with students. To enter any university, you need to know English well. There are no schools or universities where they teach in Russian in India.
The school year here begins not in September, but in July. Moreover, each educational institution chooses the start date of the semester (from July 1 to July 20). Holidays for Indian students fall in May and June, which are the hottest months of the year. As for the uniform, girls always wear long dresses, while guys can wear a shirt or T-shirt with shorts.
How can a foreigner enter a university?
To become a student at one of the higher educational institutions in India, you must have a certificate of complete secondary education. It is worth noting that a Russian-style certificate is equivalent to an Indian one. That is, you do not need to take additional courses, with the exception of English. A document confirming knowledge of the world's most popular language is a prerequisite for admission to a bachelor's degree.
To become a master, you need to provide a certificate of complete secondary education and a bachelor's diploma. The only condition for all documents is that they must be translated into English, and copies certified by a notary. There is no practice of entrance exams; only some educational institutions organize additional tests.
Scholarships and grants
Until recently, only local residents could receive free education in India. However, due to the increasing popularity of universities, this opportunity is now available to foreigners. In order to take part in the competition, you must fill out an application. Every year, leading universities in India allocate several budget places for foreign citizens. The whole thing is organized by the Council for Cultural Relations.
Grants are provided for various specialties. Anyone can apply and maybe they will be lucky enough to become a student at one of the Indian universities.
Citizens of Russia and CIS countries can receive free education in India through government funding programs. The most popular among them is ITEC. This program offers training on a budgetary basis from a federal university in India in one of the specialties: management, banking or public relations. However, this offer provides a stipend of $100 per month to the student. Plus, free accommodation in a hotel or hostel is provided.
Living conditions for students
It should be noted that, despite the high level of education in India, living here is not so easy. This is due to differences in the conditions to which we are accustomed. For example, if you take food, you will not find the usual meat, bread or dairy products. In India there is only poultry and cakes. Pharmacies do not sell iodine or other conventional medicines.
Traffic is also a problem here. Traffic lights and pedestrian crossings are installed only in the largest cities. You can see many beggars and dirty people on the streets. Those who consider themselves squeamish will not be able to live in India.
Prospects for getting a job after studying
To put it bluntly, finding a job for a foreign student who does not have Indian citizenship is incredibly difficult, almost impossible. The situation in the country at the moment is such that about 500 highly qualified specialists who are fluent in Hindi and English are vying for one vacant position. A foreigner, who hardly knows the local language well, clearly loses against their background.
In fact, the only chance is to establish yourself as a talented and responsible student during your studies. Large enterprises cooperate with universities and do not miss out on truly competent specialists, including foreigners. Therefore, you need to show your best side if you want to stay in the country.
In this article we briefly looked at education in India. Now everyone can draw a conclusion for themselves and form an opinion about the level of education in this state.
Trigonometry, algebra and, most importantly, the decimal number system came to us. The ancient game of chess also originates from India. Indian doctors knew caesarean sections, achieved high skill in setting bones, and plastic surgery was more developed among them than anywhere else in ancient times.
What was the Indian education system like in the past?
According to the prescriptions of the sacred writings, the education of a boy (brahmacharin) began in the fourth or fifth year of life and had to take place in the house of a brahmana mentor (guru). The student was obliged to show his mentor every respect, serving him and obeying him unquestioningly. Less attention was paid to the education of girls.
The training began with mastering the rules for performing sandhya, i.e. morning, noon and evening rituals, which consisted of reciting the Gayatri, holding the breath, swallowing and sprinkling water, and pouring a libation of water in honor of the Sun, which was more a symbol of the personal god of the believer, such as Vishnu or Shiva, rather than the deity itself to yourself. The rituals were considered obligatory for everyone and are performed in various forms to this day.
The main subject of study was the Vedas (hymns). The mentor recited the Vedas by heart to several disciples sitting in front of him on the ground, and from morning to evening they repeated verse by verse until they were completely memorized. Sometimes, in order to achieve complete accuracy of reproduction, hymns were memorized in several ways: first in the form of coherent passages, then for each word separately (padapatha), after which the words were combined into groups according to the principle ab, bv, vg, etc. (kramapatha) or in an even more intricate way. Thanks to such a developed system of training patience and mnemonic control, many generations of mentors and students developed those exceptional memory properties that made it possible to preserve the Vedas for posterity in the exact form in which they existed approximately a thousand years BC.
The disciples who lived in the guru's house were not limited to studying only the Vedas. There were other areas of knowledge, the so-called “Parts of the Veda”, i.e. auxiliary sciences necessary for the correct understanding of sacred texts. These six Vedantas included: kalpa - the rules for performing the ritual, siksha - the rules of pronunciation, i.e. phonetics, chandas - metrics and prosody, nirukta - etymology, i.e. explanation of incomprehensible words in Vedic texts, vyakarane - grammar, jyotisha - the science of the calendar. In addition, mentors taught special secular subjects - astronomy, mathematics, literature.
Some cities became famous thanks to the famous teachers who lived in them and acquired a reputation as centers of education. Varanasi and Takshashila (Taxila) were considered the oldest and largest centers. Among the famous scholars is Panini, a grammarian of the 4th century. BC e., the brahman Kautilya, the founder of the science of public administration, as well as Charaka, one of the luminaries of Indian medicine.
Although according to Smriti ideals there should be only a few students under the supervision of one mentor, nevertheless, larger centers of learning existed in the “university cities”. So in Varanas an educational institution was organized for 500 students with a relatively small number of teachers. All of them were supported by charity.
With the spread of Buddhism and Jainism, education could be obtained not only in the teacher's home, but also in monasteries. In the Middle Ages, some of them became real universities. The most famous Buddhist monastery was Nalanda in Bihar. The educational program in Nalanda was not limited to the training of neophytes in the field of Buddhist religious teachings, but also included the study of the Vedas, Hindu philosophy, logic, grammar and medicine. At least 10 thousand students studied free of charge in Nalanda, served by a large staff of servants.
The Gurukul system has not disappeared in India to this day. Modern gurus are considered the embodiment of knowledge, ethics and caring, and in the image of the shishya the strong-willed component has increased, but this is still a respectful student who considers his teacher to be a beacon illuminating the right path. Thanks to the integrated approach, students become more interested in learning, easier to show curiosity and more free to create.
The word “Teacher” sounds very respectable in India, because everyone understands the importance of the role of such a person both for education and for the society of the entire country.
Teacher's Day is celebrated on September 5th, the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and is a tribute to the memory of the great teacher.
The modern education system was formed in India after the state gained independence in 1947.
The country's educational system includes several stages:
Preschool education;
School (secondary and full);
Secondary vocational education;
Higher and postgraduate education with obtaining academic degrees (bachelor, master, doctor).
The state educational system operates according to two programs. The first provides training for schoolchildren, the second - for adults. The age range is from nine to forty years. There is also an open education system in which several open universities and schools operate in the country.
Preschool education begins at the age of three, learning takes place in a playful way. The process of preparing for school lasts two years.
School education in India follows a unified scheme. A child begins to study at school at the age of four. Education for the first ten years (secondary education) is free, compulsory and follows a standard general education curriculum. Main disciplines: history, geography, mathematics, computer science and a subject freely translated by the word “science”. From the 7th grade, “science” is divided into biology, chemistry, and physics, which are familiar in Russia. "Politics", the equivalent of our natural sciences, is also taught.
Upon reaching the age of fourteen and moving to high school (complete secondary education), students make a choice between fundamental and vocational education. Accordingly, there is an in-depth study of the subjects of the chosen course.
India is rich in a large number and variety of trade schools. There, over the course of several years, in addition to secondary education, the student receives a profession that is in demand in the country.
In Indian schools, in addition to the native (regional) language, it is compulsory to study the “additional official” language - English. This is explained by the unusually large number of languages of the multinational and numerous Indian people. English is the generally accepted language of the educational process; most textbooks are written in it. Studying a third language (German, French, Hindi or Sanskrit) is also mandatory.
Schooling is conducted six days a week. The number of lessons varies from six to eight per day. Most schools offer free meals for children. There is no grading system in Indian schools. But there are compulsory school-wide exams twice a year, and national exams in high school. All exams are written and taken in the form of tests. The vast majority of teachers in Indian schools are men.
School holidays in India fall in December and June. During the summer holidays, which last a whole month, children's camps are opened in schools. In addition to relaxation and entertainment with children, traditional creative educational activities are held there.
The Indian secondary education system includes both public and private schools.
Higher education in India is prestigious, diverse and popular among young people. There are more than two hundred universities in the country, most of which are focused on European education standards. The higher education system is presented in a three-stage form familiar to Europeans. Students, depending on the length of study and the chosen profession, receive bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees.
Among the most popular and prestigious universities are Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi, Rajasthan, each of these universities has 130-150 thousand students. In recent decades, due to the steady development of the Indian economy, the number of universities with an engineering and technical orientation has increased. The Indian Institute of Technology and the Institute of Management are among the most attractive and worthy here. Moreover, in the latter, 50% of students are foreign students. The share of humanities graduates in India is about 40%. Postgraduate education in India can also be free, just like primary university education. For these purposes, institutes regularly provide grants, for which at a minimum you need a diploma and knowledge of the English language.
Obtaining higher education in Russia is becoming increasingly popular among Indian youth. This is explained by several factors:
High and ever-increasing level of higher education in Russia;
Compared to European prices, studying at Russian universities is much cheaper;
General low cost of living.
It is noteworthy that to enter Russian universities on a commercial basis with instruction in English, there is no need to pass entrance exams. In many universities in Russia, including Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko, conduct Russian language classes (RFL) for Anglophones.
All documents of foreign students must be legalized: translated into Russian, certified by a notary.
The education system in India has undergone significant changes towards development and improvement over the past decades. The reason for this is the rapid growth of the country's economy and the increasing need for qualified scientific and working specialists. Much attention is paid to all levels of education - from preschool to higher education; obtaining a good education and a decent specialty among the country's population is one of the urgent life tasks.
Bibliography
1. Basham A.L. The miracle that was India. Per. from English, M., Main editorial office of oriental literature of the Nauka publishing house, 1977. 616 p. With ill. (Culture of the Peoples of the East).
2. India: Customs and etiquette / Venika Kingsland; lane from English E. Bushkovskaya. – M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. – 128s. (“A short guide”).
Of course, we will not consider those very colorful and stereotypical educational institutions located in particularly remote corners of the country, which are difficult to look at without tears. The educational path that is open to every foreign child and to those whose parents are willing to spend a certain amount on the development of their child will be taken as a basis, because even in public schools and universities you will have to pay.
This cannot be denied, because this is not just an ingrained stereotype, but in India there really are quite a lot of difficulties with education. This happens not only due to poverty and difficult economic conditions, but also, although only partly, the mentality of some residents.
While it cannot be denied that widespread education reform has made primary education accessible to the vast majority of children, the quality of these schools leaves much to be desired. In addition, about 50% of children do not master the subsequent stages of education due to their high cost and lack of time for the children, who are sometimes busy at work.
However, all these obvious shortcomings are not absolute, since in India you can find an educational institution that will give your child an education no worse than in the most successful European countries.
What should a preschooler do?
To begin with, it is worth noting that there are no kindergartens in our and European understanding in India. This is the tradition of this country that has developed over thousands of years, where mothers are supposed to sit with their children until a certain age, teaching them through the efforts of the entire large family.
However, due to the fact that in recent decades there has often been a situation where both parents work, and there is no opportunity at all to place the child with relatives, special groups have emerged that work at a preparatory school (pre-school). Here children are divided by age and time they are expected to be away from their parents. As a rule, several hours with a teacher are spent in educational games, during which children learn not only the basics of the world, but also English and Indian languages.
It often happens that after parents choose a particular group for their child, they no longer think about choosing a school. This is because after completing the next age level in such “kindergartens”, you can simply continue your child’s education in primary school. However, there are often cases when parents carefully think about choosing a school educational institution in a separate manner.
What are the features of the Indian school?
Despite the fact that primary education in India has recently become publicly available, when choosing a school for a child, many advise focusing on private schools or especially prestigious public schools (the cost of education in which averages about $100 per month), which will have to be searched for additionally. The thing is that not all Indian educational institutions will provide you with a quality education in good conditions.
Private schools are distinguished by the fact that they very often place emphasis on equally good mastery of not only the Indian language (Hindi) and the language of the state, but also English, which years later children consider almost their second mother tongue. Subsequently, children, depending on how diligently they studied, will be able to speak fluently in three languages at once. Also, they use different approaches to raising children and presenting knowledge and material, which may be of interest to people who prefer innovative methods.
You will be pleasantly surprised, but in absolutely every school in India, regardless of its status and prestige, children are fed at school. The food set is standard for everyone, it is rice with a bottle of water and masala. Products may vary at some locations.
After you choose a school that suits your child, you will need to reserve a place in advance by paying an advance reservation fee and begin preparing all the necessary documents.
Let's go to higher education or Indian institutes
In total, there are about 220 higher education institutions in the country, 16 of which are central. Especially notable among them is Nalanda University, established in the 5th century AD. e., which has its own specific flavor and long history.
It is worth noting that in India you will not find simple specialized universities, but those whose otherness and specificity are especially pronounced. For example, at the Indira Kala Sangeet, which is located in Hairagarh, they are introduced only to Indian music, and at the Calcutta Rabindra Bharati, students do not study anything except the Bengali language and Tagore studies.
The largest and most prestigious universities in India are Gandhi University, Rajasthan University, Bombay University, Mumbai University and Calcutta University. They continue to be quite popular for many years not only among the local population, but also among some foreigners.
In recent years, technical professions have become especially popular, as the growth of students and graduates of engineering and technical specialties is especially noticeable. What is important is that in a country with such progress, the demand for specialists in this profile is growing, since they are simply necessary for the developing economy of the country.
The Indian education system itself, due to its long joint history, is completely identical to the British one. There are also three stages that students master during the learning process. At each of them (Bachelor, Master or Doctor of Science), you can complete your education by receiving the corresponding diploma.
Despite the fact that India has a rather unsightly reputation in European countries, which, unfortunately, is based not only on stereotypes, it is a developing country. Here the economy and productivity are growing rapidly, and every year people are increasingly striving for knowledge by any means. Yes, getting on your feet here at the moment may not be easy, but it is possible, especially for those children whose families have the finances to do so.
First stage of education is ten years, the second is two years. This is where compulsory secondary education ends.
For the next three years, you can study both at school (preparation for entering a university) and at a vocational college (here students receive secondary specialized education).
There are also specialized trade schools, where after eight to ten years of study, the student, along with secondary education, receives some in-demand profession: seamstress, mechanic, mechanic.
Higher education, according to the Bologna system, has three levels: bachelor's degree (from three to five years depending on the specialty), master's degree (two years) and doctoral study (three years of attending specialized courses and writing a dissertation).
Universities in India very many, and they vary greatly in teaching method and focus. There are highly specialized educational institutions that provide knowledge, for example, exclusively in language or music.
Education for children in India
Education for foreign children is available in both public and private schools. Teaching is conducted in English. Before admission, students usually undergo an interview.
The cost of education in public schools is quite affordable - about one hundred dollars a month. Private educational institutions will cost more, but the learning process there is more interesting and varied. The tuition fee also includes meals for schoolchildren.
Higher Education in India
It is quite easy to get higher education in India. To enter a university you don’t even need to take entrance exams. Most students enter Indian universities through exchange and internship programs.
But there is an opportunity to get an education at a university on your own. Universities are divided into centralized (their activities are regulated by the state), local (subject to state legislation) and private.
There are no branches of famous foreign universities here. A year of university study will cost a foreigner about fifteen thousand dollars.
Generally Indian education is at a fairly high level, but the best quality education here is in pharmacology and jewelry making.
Studying is becoming very popular for foreigners in English in Indian universities. For admission, it is enough to pass a simple test to determine the level of knowledge, according to the results of which students are divided into groups.
Foreign students, as a rule, live in dormitories. However, if you want to get to know the life and culture of Indians better, some Indian families provide a room for sharing.
In general, living in this country will cost much less than even in the native CIS countries.
Monthly expenses, including accommodation, food, and moderate entertainment, will cost $150–250. In addition, the Indian government often issues grants and scholarships. An advantage here is given to graduate students studying in specialties related to Indian culture, its religion, and art.
Second higher education in India
A second higher education in India can be obtained completely free of charge. To do this, it is enough to already have some experience in your specialty and participate in a specialized program of the Indian government.
The professions included in this program are limited, but their list is extensive and is updated every year. Detailed information about the possibility of free education can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Education of India. Indian education and living conditions
The conditions of Indian education and living are noticeably different from what we are used to. First of all, the difference in nutrition is striking.
In India there is no meat (only poultry), no traditional bread (only flatbread), no dairy products (only if you prepare them yourself). There are no usual medicines, such as iodine, for example. Very difficult traffic situation.
Traffic lights and signs are installed only in large cities, and even then, not everywhere. For many, an unpleasant surprise is the preference of Indians in the field of perfumery and taste in general.
There are many beggars and simply professional beggars on the streets. Unfortunately, those who are overly squeamish will have a hard time in this eastern country.
You shouldn't count on strict intensive training either. India is not Germany. Here the number of holidays (both national and local) is not much less than the number of days in a year. For this reason, the educational process is often interrupted for a day or even more.