Characteristics of India's education system

TYPES OF EDUCATION

Montessori Method of Education: The schools that follow the Montessori method in India allow the children to do anything that interest them and the role of the teacher is to help them accomplish their tasks whenever approached. Children of different ages may be allowed to work in the same room. The primary aim of all the Montessori schools in India has been to develop the child physically, mentally and socially so that they can eventually become responsible persons. Montessori Preschools all over the world use identical equipments with which the children work. 

This system of education today has attained maturity and the Montessori education in India is now quite developed. The number of schools following the Montessori Method is continuously increasing through the length and breadth of the country. The Indian Montessori Centre has also started providing Indian Montessori Training Courses and the online Montessori Training Courses to train the adults in the Montessori Method of education in India. 

 Madrassa education in India aims at educating Muslim children living in this country. Madrassas were originally established to spread the message of Islam and impart religious teaching on its followers. The Ulamas, a group of religious specialists used to perform the role of teachers in Madrassa to spread Islam outside the Arabian Peninsula. A Madrassa was as treated as a high school or college earlier. In the Islamic era, there were thousands of Madrassas which were as big as some universities today. They were full with exhibit museums, libraries and visiting scholar programs.

Great scholars and professors dedicated their lives in the Madrassas for learning the philosophy of Islam, the Farsi language, and more significantly, to broaden knowledge among ordinary public. Madrassa education in India has played a vital role in educating thousands of Muslim children. The importance of Madrassas lies in its potential to make education available to the poorer section of the society. 

Technical Education Courses in India: The courses, which are known as 'technical' in India and therefore come under the purview of All India Council of Technical Education are - degree and diploma courses in Engineering, Master degree Courses in Engineering, Master of Computer Application (MCA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Pharmacy Courses, Courses in Architecture and Applied Arts and Hotel Management and Catering Technology Courses. 

Vocational educational in India aims to develop skilled manpower through diversified courses to meet the requirements of mainly the unorganised sector and to instill self-employment skills in people through a large number of self employment oriented courses. Vocational education is imparted through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics.

Special education

The differently able children are provided special education in India so that they can seriously engage in improving the quality of their life. With the advancement of technology, Special education in India for physically disabled or mentally challenged is also fast improving. 

Online education – delivered via the internet to students at remote locations.

Non-formal education: to acknowledge the importance of education, learning and training

Desired outcomes in India's Education

Outcomes desired in India's Education:

• To pull smaller children out of child labour, prevents children from entering unsafe working conditions. As child labour is a very serious problem in India, the country puts very heavy emphasis on enrolling all children to primary school.
• Tap on students potential (Vocational training). One feature of India's secondary school system is its emphasis on profession based vocational training to help students attain skills for finding a vocation of his/her choosing. This will allow the student to further refine his area of interest or further improve his current strengths. 
• Preserve Indian traditions. In the secondary school education curriculum, yoga is included in their lessons, so as to preserve traditional Indian arts, and carry it over to the next generation.
• To bring about positive social change. With education, the country believes that the people of a lower living standard will be able to pull away from the vicious cycle of poverty, and the living standards of the people can improve.
• Allow education to be accessible for all. 80% of all elementary schools are run by the government, and the government is pushing to make education open for all children with heavy subsidies.

Education structure in India

There are broadly four stages of school education in India:

• Primary
• Upper primary
• Secondary
• Higher secondary

Overall, schooling lasts 12 years, following the "10+2 pattern". However, there are considerable differences between the various states in terms of the organizational patterns within these first 10 years of schooling.

The government is committed to ensuring universal elementary education (primary and upper primary) education for all children aged 6-14 years of age. Primary school includes children of ages 6-11, organized into classes one through five. Upper Primary and Secondary school pupils aged 11-15 are organized into classes six through ten, and higher secondary school students ages 16-17 are enrolled in classes eleven through twelve.

In some places there is a concept called Middle/Upper Primary schools for classes between six to eight. In such cases classes nine to twelve are classified under high school category.

Higher Education in India provides an opportunity to specialize in a field and includes technical schools (such as the Indian Institutes of Technology), colleges, and universities.