What is Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts. In its narrow, technical sense, education is the formal process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, customs and values from one generation to another.

e.g., instruction in schools.

Education in Ancient India

The history of education in ancient India is fascinating and is recorded and can be tracked to the ancient era. Education in ancient India began around the 3rd century B.C with elements of religious training and impart of traditional knowledge. Sages and scholars imparted education orally .Palm leaves and barks of trees were used for writing.

Gurukula System
Education in ancient india was more identified with the Gurukula system . These ancient Hindu schools in India were residential in nature with the sishyas or students living in the same house with the Guru or the teacher . The students lived together irrespective of their social standing .

Brahmacharyam
Ancient indians allotted a period of time for the boys exclusively for education . Through Upanyana, a student was initiated in to Brahmacharyam .During this period he was under complete self discipline and self control .All sorts of luxuries and pleasures were to be avoided This period was called as Brahmacharyam where the students concentrated on learning various subjects.

Subjects Taught
In ancient India, during the Vedic period from about 1500 BC to 600 BC, most education was based on the Veda and later Hindu texts and scriptures. Vedic education included: proper pronunciation and recitation of the Veda, the rules of sacrifice, grammar, understanding the secrets of nature, reasoning including logic, the sciences, and the skills necessary for an occupation. There is mention in the Veda of herbal medicines for various conditions or diseases, including fever, cough, baldness, snake bite and others.

 The oldest of the Upanishads - another part of Hindu scriptures - date from around 500 BC. These texts encouraged an exploratory learning process where teachers and students were co-travellers in a search for truth. The teaching methods used reasoning and questioning.

 Two epic poems formed part of ancient Indian education. The Mahabharata, discusses human goals. Attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world . The other epic poem, Ramayana, explores themes of human existence and the concept of dharma.

 The teacher imparted knowledge of Philosophy, Literature, Warfare, Statecraft, Medicine, Astrology and History. The corpus of Sanskrit literature encompasses a rich tradition of poetry and drama as well as technical scientific, philosophical and generally Hindu religious texts, though many central texts of Buddhism and Jainism have also been composed in Sanskrit.

Gurudakshina
Education was free, but students from well-todo families paid "Gurudakshina," a voluntary contribution after the completion of their studies.

Education in the Medieval Period

The first millennium and the few centuries preceding it saw the flourishing of higher education at Nalanda, Takshila, Ujjain, & Vikramshila Universities. Art, Architecture, Painting, Logic, Grammar, Philosophy, Astronomy, Literature, Buddhism, Hinduism, Arthashastra (Economics & Politics), Law, and Medicine. Takshila specialized in the study of medicine, while Ujjain laid emphasis on astronomy. Nalanda, being the biggest centre, handled all branches of knowledge, and housed up to 10,000 students at its peak.

 Education in medieval India expressed a new perspective in the 11th century . The muslim established the elementary and secondary schools . This further let to the commencement of universities like Delhi, Lucknow and Allahabad . There was a fresh interaction between Indian and Islamic traditions in the fields of knowledge like theology ,religion , philosophy ,fine arts ,painting ,architecture, mathamatics ,medicine and astronomy .

 Muslim rulers promoted urban education by building libraries and literary societies .primary schools called maktabs were established and reading writing and basic Islamic prayers were taught. Secondary schools called Madrasas taught advanced language skills . These were setup by sultans nobles and other influential ladies. a scholars from Madrasa would be eligible for civil service and to become a judge.

Education in Modern India

The educational system which the British introduced teaching of English language was given greater emphasis and the study of languages like Arabic ,Persian and Sanskrit were left to individual efforts .

OBJECTIVES
The English introduced modern education To reduce the expenditure on administration To encourage the study of English language To expand market for English goods To spread Christianity According to Lord Macaulay after receiving modern education Indians would remain Indians only in their colour while their interests, ideas ,morals and Intelligence.

Steps taken by the British to Introduce Western Education in India

1784 A.D. Asiatic society of Bengal was founded by sir .William Jones this society started several English Schools and Colleges . The missionaries started Wilson College at Bombay , Christian College at Madras, St,Johns College at Agra . Progressive Indians like Rajaram Mohan Roy also started colleges where English was taught

 Charter act of 1813A.D. paved way for setting aside 1 lakh of rupees for promoting the knowledge of modern sciences. But sadly this money was not used for many years and there was a controversy about the medium of learning . Between 1828 and 1835 A.D. Willam Bentinck along with Lord Macaulay and Rajaram Mohan Roy encouraged English learning .

 Lord Harding decided that only Indians with English knowledge will be appointed in government jobs . Charles Woods despatch -1854 A.D. enabled educational departments to be established in every province and universities were opened at Calcutta Bombay and Madras in 1857 A.D. Atleast one government school in each district

 The Raj, often working with local philanthropists, opened 186 universities and colleges of higher education by 1911; they enrolled 36,000 students. By 1939 the number of institutions had doubled and enrollment reached 145,000. The curriculum followed classical British standards of the sort set by Oxford and Cambridge and stressed English literature and European history. Nevertheless by the 1920s the student bodies had become hotbeds of Indian nationalism.

Education in the post Independence era

After independence, education became the responsibility of the states. The Central Government's only obligation was to co-ordinate in technical and higher education and specify standards. This continued till 1976, when the education became a joint responsibility of the state and the Centre.

 Education in India falls under the control of both the Union Government and the states, with some responsibilities lying with the Union and the states having autonomy for others. The various articles of the Indian Constitution provide for education as a fundamental right. Most universities in India are controlled by the Union or the State Government. India has made progress in terms of increasing primary education attendance rate and expanding literacy to approximately two thirds of the population.

 India's improved education system is often cited as one of the main contributors to the economic rise of India. Much of the progress especially in Higher education, Scientific research has been credited to various public institutions.

 However, India continues to face stern challenges. Despite growing investment in education, 25% of its population is still illiterate; only 15% of Indian students reach high school, and just 7%, of the 15% who make it to high school, graduate.

 As of 2011 there are 1522 degree-granting engineering colleges in India with an annual student intake of 582,000, plus 1,244 polytechnics with an annual intake of 265,000. However, these institutions face shortage of faculty and concerns have been raised over the quality of education.

 Value based education is a three fold development of any individual of any gender and age, but most importantly of a child. Education tries to develop three aspects: physique, mentality and character. Even though physique and mentality are important, they are menaces without the third because character is the greatest of these. Education plays a huge role in precisely this area.

 The failure in academic learning is closely linked to the failure to nurture values and sensitivity to others and nature