“Is the Indian Education system

Crossfire: “Is the Indian Education system

failing?”

Panelists:

1. Prof. Sultan Ahmed Ismayil, renowned soil
biologist and ecologist
2. Bushra Shariff, Founder of Zenslap Artist
management
3. Dr Eugene D'vaz, Poet and Painter, Prof. at St
Joseph College Trichy.
4. Mr Prashanth Raj, Director at The Viral Fever
5. Dr. Chris Phillip, Professor dept of Optical
Physics, Imperial College London.
One could blame the lackadaisical precedents
for the initial lukewarm response for this
discussion but whoever missed it have lots to
lose. By far this was the best Crossfire in the
past four years. The earlier editions did have a
lot of crosstalk but lacked fire in the discussion.
Although panel was formed by pick and place
from different teams including GL and
Infotainment, it seemed like a conscious effort
in forming a group with polarized standpoints
to discuss if “The Indian education System is
failing”. The opening comment by Prof Ismayil
instantly put the pace of the discussion into
overdrive, “When a teacher talks, students
listen but when students talk, students learn.
The students pass not because of teachers but
in spite of them. In the present scenario, the
students are passing but the institutions are
failing“. Making a strong point against the stale
syllabus and the reluctance of even the
autonomous institutions, he stood for updation
of curriculum to meet the current day needs. As
the discussion moved on the cultural
background of India was blamed.
Notwithstanding the comment, Chris made a
quick rebuttal citing the example back at his
home. England despite having a huge cultural
background, it has never impeded the higher
education as the faculty in the universities were
all young. He even noted that bringing about a
change in the varsities was easier than in the
industries. Talking about innovation, he
remarked that one must be brave enough to
make mistakes and a system that does not
tolerate mistakes can’t encourage creativity;
only by funding a hundred failed experiments
can anyone make an innovation. As the
discussion progressed India-centric and the
Indian universities were blamed for not making
to the top 200, the panel described Indian
system of education as broad spaced and
holistic; for a western mind that capitalizes on
specialization, they would never have the right
yardstick to understand our excellence. For the
appalling state of affairs, a lion’s share of
blame goes to the students who are not
rebellious against the ills that the system
suffers from. Each one of them is content with
a handsome pay check and is not willing to
involve in any skirmishes against the system.
But at the same time, it’s the constant fear of
the administration that keeps the students in
abeyance. In an anecdote that was narrated, a
father who sees something beautiful in an
exhibition wants his son to see the same. So he
puts him on his shoulders, but his son sees
something even more beautiful farther behind.
This must be typical the mindset of a teacher
who must not compete with students rather
complete their education. When it comes to
running behind dreams, a few pointed out the
shaded horse attitude of students to look for
green pastures of economically satisfying jobs.
Concluding the discussion, financial well being
might be an achievement but we must be brave
and dare to be different in choosing less
explored avenues to become super achievers.
Dr Vinod moderated the discussion and duly got
what he deserved from the fiery panel for
blaming the poor ranking of Indian universities,
besides the memento. :)