Education system focusing on creating obedient workforce; total neglect of subjects like humanities, natural sciences, history: CJI NV Ramana

Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana on Saturday expressed concern over the current education system which has the sole objective to secure highly remunerative and profitable job opportunities..He said that educational institutions were losing their social relevance as with the mushrooming of factories of education."I am witnessing the education system preferred by the present generation. I am afraid that institutions are losing their social relevance. We are witnessing mushrooming of factories of education which are leading to devaluation of degrees and human resources. I am not sure who or what is to be blamed," he said.Pertinently, he said that there was a total neglect of subjects relating to humanities, natural sciences, history. Although the need for focusing on equal distribution of educational opportunities was addressed by the Supreme Court by reading Right to Education into the ambit of Right to Life and by the parliament by inserting Article 21A which led to formulation of Right To Education Act of 2004, the CJI said that he was disappointed at the continued focus of professional courses on creation of an obedient workforce which could generate the required output."There was a total neglect of equally important subjects such as the humanities, natural sciences, history, economics and languages. The harsh reality is that even after the students enter professional universities, the focus is on classroom learning, and not on the world beyond," he said.True education should enable individuals to acknowledge deep rooted issues in society and find appropriate solutions, he said, emphasizing on the importance of universities becoming incubation centres of novel ideas as well as pathbreaking research..The CJI was speaking at the convocation ceremony of Acharya Nagarjuna University, where he was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate. He started his address by stating that a large part of who we are as individuals is shaped by values, principles, and knowledge instilled by educational institutions in our early stages of self discovery and development. "Not only does it shape our mind and personality, but it also serves as a launchpad for people’s aspirations and dreams," he added..He underlined how education imparted by colonial rulers in pre-independence India was centred around producing an obedient work-force and that Independent India — a primarily agrarian country, replete with issues of social inequity, poverty, and illiteracy — needed an education model which could get rid of its colonial mindset while promoting national integration.A pertinent question, according to him, was whether the primary objective of education was to serve the individual or the society."Holistic education is one which ultimately can balance both these interests. Both are important facets of education. Individuality should be preserved and nurtured, as this will create leaders and visionaries. At the same time, education should enable us to be responsive to societal needs, such as the maintenance of social order and justice in a pluralistic society," he said..He then mentioned how when he attended university forty years ago, students would debate on ideologies, philosophy, politics and social issues."Our deliberations, our activism, our resolution to bring about changes shaped our opinions about the world. It taught us the value of an individual voice and opinion, in shaping the dynamics of society and politics. We realised the value of a liberal democracy - where the rights and freedoms protect our thought and speech, where diversity of opinion is welcomed," he said.He added that institutions back then were a reflection of the country's socio-cultural diversity as students from distinct identities and backgrounds elevated their deliberations by bringing in diverse opinions."Our collective endeavours taught us the value of the spirit of fraternity. It kept us connected to our roots. We felt the responsibility of building an equitable society. It was through these shared experiences, that we understood the nerve of the society," he said..Highlighting the declining social participation of students, he stressed the need to develop a model of education which can teach them how to face real life challenges, enable them to achieve social solidarity and create individuals who are meaningful members of society. He, therefore, suggested universities and their research wings to focus on finding comprehensive solutions on issues affecting the country.Apart from that, he also suggested universities to collaborate with research and development organisations so that a culture of scientific enquiry could be encouraged and students could gain practical experience."There should be active cooperation by the State to earmark funds for research and innovation. It will be a sad commentary if we allow our key areas of learning and research to suffer on account of lack of funding," he added..Further, he said that while aiming for economic progress, we must not lose sight of our cultural and environmental duty as it would be a great dishonour to our roots. He, therefore, called upon the youth to be "conscious changemakers" and to think of innovative ways to benefit from the untapped composite culture of India and of sustainable models of development..This consciousness, he said, must acknowledge needs of our community and environment. He urged the student to take inspiration from their respective cultures and languages and accommodate it in their vision for the future."Transcend beyond the ideas of self. Try to take your community along with you. Develop an inclusive vision of progress. Be a stakeholder in the nation building process," he said..Lastly, he encouraged the graduating students to build a democracy filled with vibrancy and idealism, where differences of identities and opinions were respected. "Don’t allow corrupt thoughts. Don’t tolerate injustices. Think beyond yourself, and be willing to make sacrifices. Be sensitive to the needs of the community and society," he stated..CJI Ramana is an alumnus of Acharya Nagarjuna University. He received his degree in law in 1982 before enrolling as an advocate the following year.