School education in India. The history of the development of the education system in India

Contrary to popular belief that India is one of the developing countries, and therefore education there is in its infancy, the level of knowledge that can be obtained in Indian universities is not inferior to the educational level of European universities. Until recently, despite the rich historical heritage, where the country occupied one of the leading positions in the world arena in the field of education, and a highly developed culture, India was only on the threshold of economic development and was much inferior in this respect to other countries. As a result, the general level of education of the population was low. In recent decades, the situation has changed dramatically. India has become one of the rapidly developing countries and has taken an important position in the world economy. Now, more than ever, the country needs highly qualified personnel, so the support and development of the educational sphere and training is the most important task of the country's social policy.

History of Indian education

Since time immemorial, India has been the largest cultural and educational center in the world. It was in India in 700 BC. e. The first university in the world was founded in Taxila. Indian scientists gave life to such important sciences as algebra and trigonometry. The Indian scientist Shridharacharya introduced the concept of quadratic equations. Do not forget that Sanskrit - the ancient Indian literary language - formed the basis of all Indo-European languages. Ayurvedic medical practices, which came to us from India, are used today throughout the world. Another interesting fact: the art of navigation also comes from India - it originated here as early as 4000 BC. e. It is noteworthy that in the modern word "navigation", which has a common root in many Slavic and European languages ​​\u200b\u200b(English, German, French navigation, Italian navigatione), there is an Indian etymology: it is based on the Sanskrit "navgatih" (shipmanship) . The concept of modern education in India is aimed at educating a diversified person who knows how to appreciate the beauty, art and rich cultural heritage of the country. At the heart of the modern educational system are orientation to the needs of the people, the preservation of the native language and cultural traditions. One of the main directions of the country's social policy today is to increase the general level of education of the population, therefore schools are being built everywhere in the states, the education of children in schools is promoted as opposed to home education and work from an early age.

Preschool education

The system of preschool education in India as such does not exist. Home preschool education is traditionally developed in the country. Until the age of four, the child is at home under the supervision of the mother. If both parents are busy at work, they resort to the services of a nanny or relatives. Some schools have preparatory groups, where you can still send the child if it is not possible to educate him at home. In such groups, the baby spends most of the day and, in addition to being under constant supervision, goes through the stage of preparation for school and even begins to learn foreign languages ​​(mainly English).

School in India, children start attending very early - usually from the age of four

Features of secondary education

Basic secondary education in India today is required to receive every citizen, regardless of gender and social status. This step is free. The minimum educational level is 10 classes. Here children study from 4 to 14 years old. The second stage: 11-12 grades, the stage is preparatory for those students who decide to continue their education at the university and get a specialty. Despite the fact that every citizen of India has the right to receive a free complete secondary education, there is a system of private schools in the country where in-depth study of individual subjects can be carried out, increased attention is paid to foreign languages. All educational institutions use innovative teaching methods, but the quality of education in private schools is much higher than in many public educational institutions. The average cost of tuition in a private school is between $100 and $200 per month, and sometimes more.

This is interesting:

• all secondary schools provide students with free meals;
• it is in India that the world's largest (!) school is located, in which more than 32 thousand students study.

Video: about the cost of studying in Indian schools

Russian schools in India

Today, there are only three full-fledged Russian-language schools in India: two elementary schools at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai and Chennai and one secondary school at the Embassy of the Russian Federation, located in New Delhi. Alternative ways of getting education for Russian-speaking children living with their parents in India are distance learning, family education or external studies. , where the largest number of Russian-speaking families live today, there is a practice of creating private preschool institutions with Russian-speaking teaching staff. But, as a rule, such children's institutions are created privately on the initiative of parents and do not work systematically.

Higher education system

The higher education system in India has a three-tier structure:

• undergraduate;
• magistracy;
• doctoral studies.

The duration of training directly depends on the chosen specialty. So, the period of study in the field of trade, arts is three years, and to get a specialty in the field agriculture, medicine, pharmacology or veterinary medicine, you need to study for four years.

Bachelor's studies require a mandatory document of complete secondary education (12 years). After completing a bachelor's degree, a graduate has the right to continue his studies in a master's program (2 years) or go to work. In view of the active development of the country's economy in recent decades, the main emphasis in the Indian higher education system is on technical specialties, while the humanities account for about 40% of the total. State and private enterprises are interested in obtaining highly qualified specialists, therefore they take an active part in the development of the educational structure of the country. The most popular majors in Indian higher education institutions are:

• IT technologies;
• engineering specialties;
• management;
• pharmacology;
• jewelry business.

For citizens of India, education in public institutions of higher education can be free. Foreign citizens are admitted to state universities on a budgetary basis only if the university provides a grant for education. At the same time, the price in commercial Indian universities is quite low by European standards: the cost of two full semesters in the most prestigious higher education institution in India does not exceed $15,000 per year. When entering on a contract basis, the applicant is required to provide proof of solvency (this may be an extract from a bank card). Virtual and distance learning has become widespread in the system of Indian higher education. Many universities take part in international scientific programs, share their own courses in engineering, information technology and other fields for free. IT-specialists educated in one of the Indian universities are in demand all over the world today.

The system of higher education in neighboring China is somewhat different:

Indian women study at universities on an equal footing with men, but when applying for a specialty, preference is still given to male specialists

Popular universities in India

The higher education system in India is represented by more than 200 institutions of higher education with over 6 million students from India and other countries of the world. Today, India ranks third in the world after China and the United States in terms of the number of institutions of higher education. Indian universities are divided into federal universities and universities offering education within the same state.

Table: the most popular and largest universities in India

Photo Gallery: Top Indian Universities

Within the walls of the ancient Nalanda University, the first sprouts of Indian philosophical currents, medical, engineering and other knowledge were born Since 1996, the University of Bombay has been named Mumbai - after the name of the city in which it is located More than 150 thousand students study at 8 faculties of the University of Calcutta Over 100 years of its existence University of Varanas has become one of the leading universities in India Delhi University is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country

Features of the educational process

Teaching at universities in India is conducted, as a rule, in English, so a good language base is one of the main requirements for applicants. There are no higher educational institutions where teaching in Russian would be conducted in India. At individual universities, teaching is conducted in the languages ​​of the respective states in which the university is located. However, even in such universities, English-language education is still preferable even among local residents. Unlike Russia and many other countries of the world, where the academic year begins in September, Indian schoolchildren and students begin their studies in July. It is curious that each educational institution sets the start date of the educational process independently, that is, studies can begin either on July 1 or on July 20. At the end of each semester, students take exams. As for schools, there is no system of ongoing assessment of knowledge. At the end of the school year, students take final exams orally or in the form of testing. The longest holidays in Indian educational institutions in May and June are the hottest months in the country. In Indian schools, it is customary to wear a school uniform. Girls wear elongated dresses here, boys wear shirts or T-shirts and shorts.

Admission to universities in India for foreigners

In order to enter a higher educational institution in India for a bachelor's degree, you must have a certificate of complete secondary education. Certificate confirmation is not required - a document received after graduating from a Russian school is equivalent to twelve years of education in India. It is only necessary to translate the certificate into English and certify it with a notary. For admission to the master's degree, you will need copies of a certificate of complete secondary education and a bachelor's degree, translated into English and certified by a notary. Another important requirement for admission is the presence of a certificate of completion of English language courses. Teaching in many universities is conducted in English, so language training is extremely important for subsequent education. It is not necessary to take entrance exams, only some universities use a pre-testing system. During their studies, foreign students, as a rule, live in hostels or hotels, which are provided to students free of charge. If for some reason there is no desire to use the free housing provided, you can rent an apartment. Renting an apartment will cost between $100 and $300 per month, depending on the city and state where the university is located. A big disadvantage for foreign students is the lack of opportunities to earn extra money while studying. The official employment of students during the period of study is prohibited by Indian law. If desired, it is possible to find illegal work (today the shadow labor market in India accounts for more than 80% of the total number of jobs), but it should be remembered that informal employment is strictly punished by Indian law.

Scholarships and grants

Indian universities are becoming increasingly popular among young people from many countries around the world. Despite the fact that state universities enroll only applicants with Indian citizenship for state-funded places, today foreign students have the opportunity to get higher education at one of the universities in India for free. To do this, you must apply for a scholarship or grant and achieve its approval. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations is responsible for issuing scholarships and grants for studying at one of the universities in India. As a rule, leading federal universities allocate several grants annually for foreign students. Therefore, if you are interested in studying at a particular university, you should wait until the university allocates a grant for the specialty you are interested in (as a rule, information is posted on the website of the Embassy of India or on the website of the corresponding university), and apply.

In addition, there are a number of government funding programs through which citizens of Russia and other CIS countries can receive free education in India. One of the most popular is ITEC: the program offers students to get a free education in one of the federal Indian universities in the areas of banking, public relations, small business, and management. At the same time, students under the ITEC program are regularly paid a scholarship of about $ 100 per month, and a free hostel or hotel is also provided. A student has the right to study under the ITEC program only once. Another real opportunity to study at an Indian university is the internship and exchange programs in which Indian universities are actively involved.

Obtaining a student visa

Citizens planning a trip to India, as well as staying there for the purpose of studying, must apply for a student visa, which opens for a period of 1 to 5 years and can only be issued upon official enrollment in a higher educational institution. In addition, the institution must be accredited (especially for commercial universities). In addition to the standard package of documents (application form, original and copy of a foreign passport, copy of a civil passport, 3 photographs), a person applying for a student visa must provide:

• acceptance letter from the university;
• upon admission to study on a contract basis - confirmation of payment for the first two semesters, as well as confirmation of the student's solvency: a one-year stay - at least $ 1,000, a stay for a longer period - at least $ 2,000;
• upon admission on a budgetary basis - confirmation that the inviting party bears all the costs associated with living and studying.

Employment prospects after graduation

In the matter of employment, one should face the truth: it is almost impossible for a university graduate who does not have Indian citizenship to get a vacant place. Today, about 500 specialists with higher education and excellent command of English and Hindi apply for one vacancy in a large company. A foreign student who hardly knows Hindi and in most cases studied in English is unlikely to be able to compete with the locals. The only chance to stay after studying in India, get a job and a residence permit is to prove yourself while studying. Indian manufacturing and other companies are actively cooperating with universities and betting on especially talented students, including those from other countries.

If you wish, you can use the chance and go to work in China:

Table: Pros and Cons of Pursuing Higher Education in India

Trigonometry, algebra and the basic concept of calculation came to us. The ancient game / chess / also comes from India. The modern education system was formed in India after 1947 when the state gained independence.

What is the education system of India at this stage?
If we talk about preschool education, then it is somewhat different than in Russia. Due to the increased number of working parents, special "day care" groups have appeared in India, where the child can be left during the day. All of them, as a rule, work at "pre school" ("preparatory school")
In the "pre school" itself, which must be attended before entering school, there are the following groups: playgroup, nurs ery, LKG and UKG. Compared to our system, we divide them like this: Playgroup or "game group" is something like a nursery; Nursery is translated as "nursery group", but it's more like our average; LKG (Lower KinderGarten) senior group; UKG (Upper KinderGarten) preparatory group. In the first two groups, kids are brought for 2, maximum 3 hours a day, in the next they study for 3 hours.

Just like in Russia, preparing children for school very important. It is interesting to know the criteria for evaluating a child when preparing children for school?! And they are:
Social development of the child: with other children, the ability to listen and do something together, solve problems, the ability to share (toys, food), express their feelings and desires, the ability to resolve conflicts, etc.
Speech and readiness to read: the ability to tell about what happened, history, repetition of sounds, simple sentences of 5-10 words, interest in reading, books, the ability to hold them correctly, reading simple 3 4 compound words, for capital and capital letters, independent writing your name.
Mathematics: performing tasks on recognition of shapes, the ability to draw them, sorting objects of a certain shape, understanding the words "more, less, the same", counting up to 100, writing numbers from 1 to 100, understanding serial numbers "first, second, etc. .". Possession of the following concepts: location: right, left, under, above, on, between. Length: short, long, shorter, longest,.. . Comparisons: big and small, bigger and smaller, thin and fat, many and a little, light and heavy, tall and short
Knowing your age.
Physical skills: moving in a straight line, jumping, bouncing, jumping rope, flexibility, stretching, balancing, playing with a ball, ... .
Fine motor skills: using crayons and pencils, brushes, drawing with fingers, cutting, playing with cubes, making puzzles. Ability to tie shoelaces, quickly fasten zippers, buttons.
Basic knowledge: own name, parts, seasons, domestic, wild and marine, farm animals,..
Understanding the basics of health.
Knowledge of basic professions, religious festivals and celebrations, various .
Auditory skills: ability to listen without interrupting, retelling stories, recognizing familiar stories and melodies, sense of rhythm, knowledge and understanding of simple rhymes, ... .
Writing skills: writing words from left to right, 2-3 compound words, leaving spaces between words, spelling out the most frequently used words.
Ability to draw: star, oval, heart, square, circle, rectangle and rhombus.
Here is a detailed report on the child.

Children are evaluated on all these items as follows: "asterisk" is all within the normal range, NE needs additional classes, NA skills are absent.

In modern India, the hallmark of the development of education is the emphasis on the fact that the education inherent in children will determine the character of the nation in the future. In education, the main goal is to reveal the child's abilities and cultivate positive qualities.
And then "Welcome to School"!

Indian parents need to choose which standard of education they prefer CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) or ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education).

Firstly, CBSE the schools are under the patronage of the Government of India and, in addition, only graduates of CBSE schools are hired for civil service. Schools teach in English and Hindi (it happens less frequently), they are generally more focused on those who will stay and work in the country, and they can also enroll students who previously studied at ICSE schools, but you cannot enter ICSE after CBSE.

Two other big pluses of these schools are more frequent and regular updates of the school curriculum, as well as an easier form of examinations. For example, when passing the "chemistry, physics, biology" package, you need to score 100% in general, but in the ICSE school in each subject you should get at least 33%.

For admission in a higher education institution in India you don't have to take an entrance exam. Enrollment is based on graduation results.

Today, India has one of the largest higher education networks in the world.
Universities in India are established by the central or state governments through legislation, while colleges are established either by state governments or private entities.
All colleges are affiliated with a university.
Different Types of Universities A central university or a state university while the former is funded by the Department of Human Resources Development, the latter is established and funded by the state governments.

Non-state universities have the same academic status and university privileges. For example, the Deccan Graduate College and the Pune Research Institute; Tata University of Social Sciences in ; Indian Institute of Sciences in Bangalore, etc.

College classification
Colleges in India fall into four different categories. Categorization is based on the courses they offer (professional courses), their ownership status (private/public), or their association with the university (affiliates/owned by the university).
University colleges. These colleges are run by the micro-universities themselves and in most cases are located on campus.
government colleges. There are not many government colleges, about 15-20% of the total. They are run by state governments. As is the case with university colleges, the university to which these colleges belong administers examinations, determines courses of study, and awards degrees.
professional colleges. In most cases, vocational colleges provide education in engineering, engineering, and management. Some give education in other areas. They are funded and managed either by the government or by private initiative.
private colleges. About 70% of colleges are created by private organizations or institutions. However, these institutions are also governed by the rules and regulations of the university of which they are affiliated. Although they came about through private initiative, the state government also sponsors these colleges.

In addition to traditional universities, there are universities with a pronounced specification: Vishva Bharati; Indira Kala Sangeet in Hairagarh (study Indian music); Women's University in Mumbai, Rabindra Bharati in Kolkata (the Bengali language and Tagore studies are being studied).

There are universities with one faculty and specialty, but there are also universities with a large number of faculties. The number of students in higher educational institutions varies from 13,000 to 100,000 students.

The higher education system in India has 3 levels.

Bachelor's degree implies training from three years of scientific discipline, and up to 4 years for those who want to get an education in the fields of agriculture, dentistry, pharmacology, veterinary medicine. If you want to study medicine and architecture, it will take five and a half years. Journalists, lawyers and librarians have 3-5 years of undergraduate studies.

The next level of higher education is master's degree. In any discipline, to obtain a master's degree, you must complete two years of study and write a research paper.

Doctorate is the third stage of education. After receiving a master's degree, one can be enrolled in the Pre-doctoral level to obtain a Master of Philosophy (M. Phil.) degree, it is necessary to unlearn a year.

To get a Ph.D. degree, you need to attend classes and write a research paper for another two to three years.

Today, India has not only become one of the nuclear powers, it has become one of the world leaders in the development and production of intelligent technologies. The modern system of education in India is inimitable and unique; it has rightfully entered the world economic system.

Benefits of studying in India

English courses in India

Admission to educational programs in India

• bachelor degree/ Undergraduate level
• master's degree/ postgraduate level
• doctorate degree/ Pre-doctoral level

Teachers at universities in India

Getting Grants and Scholarships in India

Applying for a student visa to India

• a photocopy of the first page of the internal passport and the country with a residence permit;
• photo size 3.5 * 4.5;
• Account statement. In the event that the training lasts less than a year, then the account must have at least 1,000 USD, and if from a year or more, then 2,000 USD;
• Letter of confirmation of enrollment in an educational institution.
• Copy of tuition payment confirmation.

India is an amazing country. They say that the people who have visited it change forever. Here everything is built on completely different principles that are not accepted in the ordinary world. So, one of the most controversial is the Indian education system. The country is actively fighting the caste system and illiteracy. Of course, we will not consider educational institutions in particular, because many of them cannot be looked at without tears. Let us analyze the whole picture of education in the country and analyze the main aspects.

What can I say, in India education is very difficult. Many people live in extreme poverty and cannot afford the additional costs. The mentality of the inhabitants and the difficult economic situation in the country have their influence. Of course, the relatively recent educational reform has slightly improved the chances of getting an education, but after leaving school, more than half of the children still do not have the necessary funds. If the parents are ready to spend money on the education of the child, then the latter will receive a level of knowledge that will not be lower than the European one. But, unfortunately, living conditions in most schools are deplorable. For example, there are schools where children are forced to sit on the floor, and ordinary stones serve as desks. Instead of a board, there is a regular rectangle drawn on the wall.

Preschool education

There are no kindergartens in India at all (at least in the form we are used to). There, the role of a nanny and teacher until the school bench is often performed by the mother. If both parents are busy at work, then the child has to be left with relatives. In the case when there is no such possibility, then special groups are created that are attached to the preparatory school. At the same time, for greater convenience, children are divided by age and time spent in groups. In principle, daily training in a group with a teacher is enough for a child to get the basics and prepare for school. At the same time, children learn not only the basics of the world, but also languages ​​​​(Indian and English).

Often, after choosing a group, parents may not worry about going to school, because at the “end” of the next age level, the baby is transferred there automatically. But in some cases, parents still have to “break their heads” over further education for their child.

School

As we have already said, school education in India for children is free, but many wealthy parents still focus on private schools or prestigious government institutions. The cost of training in this case will cost about $ 100 per month. It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to find a quality public school where one could get a good education. In private schools, the quality of education is higher, because there children receive a full amount of knowledge (including language). After graduating from a private institution, the child fully speaks three languages ​​- English, the language of his state and Hindi.

Almost every private educational institution uses individual approaches to learning, innovative methods are used that receive good reviews in the world. A unique feature of absolutely all Indian schools is free meals for children. Of course, you should not dream of a chic menu, but the child gets his sandwich with butter. After choosing a school, parents must “score” a place for themselves, pay an initial fee and collect the papers necessary for admission.

Higher education in India

When it comes to higher education, India is leading the way. It has more than two hundred universities, sixteen of which are considered central. The first place in terms of prestige is occupied by the Nalanda University, which was established in the fifth century AD. It has a unique color and rich history.

There are many specialized universities in India. For example, at Indira Kala Sangith, students are introduced to Indian music, and at Rabinda Bharati, they are introduced to the language of Tagore and Bengali. Of the most prestigious universities, it is worth highlighting Mumbai, Rajasthan, Calcutta and Gandhi University.

In the past few years, universities with a technical focus, which produce highly qualified engineers, have gained particular popularity. Such specialists in the country are becoming more and more in demand, especially against the background of the developing economy of India. As for the education system in which students study, it almost completely copies the British version. In higher institutions there are three levels - bachelor, master or doctor of science, each of which a student can master.

People in India strive for knowledge, contrary to the stereotypes that have formed about the country in European countries. The only negative is poverty, which complicates the educational process in India.