It has been a while since the new Education policy 2020 was implemented and a hot dinner table topic.
Wait there, education education policies is not new to India, you would be surprised to know that it can be traced back to the Indus valley civilization (IVC). IVC was not just about 'perfect drainage' and the 'great bath', in fact more than about 400 signs from the era has been excavated. As a matter of fact, the oldest sign board in the world is that from Dholavira, more over numerous seals carried inscriptions which clearly indicates existence of education. The Vedic age (1,500-600 BC) was the most literate and had a very advanced system of education (gurukul/aashram) in ancient India. It was during this era that; (I) Vedic literature (four Vedas, Bramhanas, Aranyankas, Upanishads, Sutras, Vedangas), (II) Two epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata, depicted the life of Ram, Pandavs, Kauravs as students living and learning in gurukul), (III) 18 Mahapuran and various other Upapuranas; were compiled. In fact the women of ancient India are known to be educated; Gargi and Matreya composed hymns in the vedic age. It's pretty strange how in 21st century government has to convince people using "beti bachao beti padhao" slogan, to save and educate girls. When the world was busy forming civilizations, India I was already ahead forming schools of philosophy. While Western philosophy evolved from Aristotle's ideas and forms to conflict between rationalist an existentialist, finally ending with Kant's dedication of space and time; in India all the six orthodox schools emerged together and developed as a way of life rather than a system of education. Education in India was so advanced that Baudhayana (1850 BC) had calculated the value of pi and negative numbers and operations on zero. Charvaka was the first to write and teach about metaphysics in the materialistic world, he wrote about physical needs of the body. Ancient India didn't just have a single system of education, impact it has specialised educational institutes; two of the world's oldest universities where in India :- Nalanda and Vikramshila. It is an irony how the 21st century Bihar has the lowest literacy rate in India whereas it used to be the center of education in ancient India . Medical education was so well developed that Susruta performed world's first Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery) and Ophthalmic surgery (removal of cataracts). In fact world's first medical book "Atreya Samhita" too was written in India . Brahmanical education was imparted through 'Gurukuls', while Buddhist education was through 'Sanghas' and Jaina educational establishments were 'Basadis'. The idea of present 'Eklavya model residential school scheme' follows from these ancient institutions. Around this era North India saw the development of three languages :- Magadhi (dialect) Prakrit and Sanskrit. South India saw the development of Sangam age and Tamil reached it's climax. Impact of Greek influence resulted in formation of Gandhara school of art. Mediaeval India influenced by Islamic culture saw the emergence of ' Madrasa' and 'Maktabs'. Education also received patronage from state and many students were granted scholarships. It is noteworthy that Islam did not oppose the education of women. Also provisions of military education was considered compulsory. Later Cholas too show evidences of compulsory education. second half of 16th century saw a spur of missionary activities throughout the world. The Portuguese missionaries in India established elementary schools of parochial type, along with colleges and universities. The French established secondary school at Puducherry to impart liberal education. The objectives of early missionaries were to establish religious dominance and to convert Indians into Christianity.
Policies of Warren Hastings laid the path for Oriental education in India. The judicial reforms of Warren Hastings created the post of Hindu and Muslim law interpreters in the court. Calcutta madrasa and Banaras Sanskrit college were established. With changing times, the Britishers felt the need to establish English as the medium of education in India; Sullivan stated that English will help 'the company and people to understand each other and facilitate dealings'. Shreerampore Trio: William Carey, J. Marshman, William Word; contributed towards the development of Bengali grammar, established Calcutta benevolent institution in 1810 and by 1810 there were more than 115 schools, does momentum lead to the formation of Shreerampore college. With the introduction of Charter act of 1813 educational reforms in India became the state's responsibility. The age of Renaissance in India came to be known as Bengal Renaissance, give rise to many social and educational reformers like raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Hunter commission of 1882 is often termed as the first education commission it was a very progressive step towards educational reform in India. Under Lord Curzon importance was given to forestry & veterinary science art and craft, vocational and commercial studies, scholarship for higher studies preservance of ancient monuments. Substantial grounds were made for women's education. Lord Curzon adopted a policy of making liberal grounds in return of government. Other notable mentions would be that of: . Macaulay Minute . Wood's Despatch . William Adam's report . Aligarh movement (formation of Aligarh Muslim university) . Annie Besant's Theosophical society . Brahmo Samaj and Prarthana Samaj . Arya Samaj . Ramkrishna Mission . Rabindranath Tagore and Shantiniketan . Sadler commission . Kothari commission Post Independence: 1. First five year plan focused on basic education and establishment of at least one Janata college in each state, development of 14 engineering institutes. 2. Second five year plan gave special attention to education of girls and recruitment of female teachers, 7 new universities will establishment, IITs were established for technical education. 3. Third five year plans focused on developing more primary and basic schools and improvement of secondary multipurpose school. 4. Fourth five year plan- emphasis on girls education, priority to training of technical personnel, reduction in dropout rate. 5. Fifth five year plan- priority to universalisation of primary education, vocationalisation of secondary education and improvement of higher education. 6. 2009 saw a remarkable change with the introduction of CGPA system in CBSE schools.