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UNIT VI: EDUCATION IN NORTH EAST

INDIA- (With special reference to Meghalaya)

Problems and Issues of Primary Education

INTRODUCTION:

Education is one of the fundamental factors of development. It is the key to success in the future
and has many opportunities in our life.

The central government has been giving financial help to the provincial government for the
expansion of primary education. The states which intend to expand primary education are given
34% of the total annual expenditure in the form of financial help. Thus, primary education has
made great progress, but due to certain reasons it cannot be said to be encouraging and
satisfactory. This is due to the following problems:

1. Defective education policy: It was laid down in the constitution of the independent India
in 1950 that within a period of 10 years from the commencement of the constitution, the
state shall endeavour to provide free and compulsory education to all children until they
complete the age of 11 years. It is regretted that the government has not achieved
complete success in this regard. The main cause for this is that the policy of the
government is based on idealism. But in a state like Meghalaya where there is shortage of
money, different geographical conductions and diversified tribes exist, the
implementation of the expensive schemes of basic schools is difficult.

2. Political difficulties: Since the attainment of independence Indian government had to

face many problems and many of them still exist especially in North Eastern States. The
problem of Native states, the problem of refugees, the problem of different linguistic
states, the problem of food, transportation etc. all these have to be removed for adequate
growth of education.

3. Dearth of teachers: it was estimated that to make the education compulsory 28 lakhs
teachers will be required in India by the year 1979-80, only 86.8% of teachers were
trained. But compared to the city's schools there is a shortage of teachers in village
schools. In a state like Meghalaya there is lots of insufficiency in different areas which
also leads to a great shortage of trained teachers.

4. Low standard of teaching: untrained teachers are not properly acquainted with teaching
methods. The primary schools are not using necessary implements of teaching due to
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shortage of money and trained teachers. Hence the education is uninteresting and its
standard is low. Therefore, it fails to attract children and their guardians.

5. Buildings of schools: many schools in India are situated in a very busy locality and
undesirable environment. Moreover, these buildings are such that they adversely affect
the health of the students because of inadequate supply and provision of the sun and the
air. Similarly, in a state like Meghalaya these problems can be solved by building new
buildings which require a huge amount of money but it is very difficult to collect the
amount needed for building schools. The poor governance and defective administration
are the results of this cause.

6. Narrow and unsuitable curriculum: The curriculum of the primary school is narrow
and unsuitable to the local needs. Its emphasis is given on bookish knowledge. The
principle of ‘Learning by word’ to develop the constructive powers of the students is
regarded and ignored.

7. Wastage and stagnation: Another great obstacle in the expansion of primary education
is wastage and stagnation. Many children leave studies either after their failure in the
examinations or their guardian in earning their livelihood.

REMEDIES OF PRIMARY EDUCATION:

1. Definite education policy: The govt. should evolve a definite education policy. The best
policy can be this that expansion of compulsory education and basic education should be
separated from each other. Education in primary school should be made compulsory. Slowly
and gradually according to convenience that education may be converted into basic
education.

2. Close attention of government: the political problems are such which may continue to exist
for a long time. However, if the government is responsible to solve the political problems of
the country, it is also duty bound to solve the problem of public education. Even political
education demands that the government should implement the scheme of free and
compulsory and universal education within the shortest possible time.

3. Reform in the administration of education: It is the responsibility of a nation to adequate

its citizens. The government of India should take upon itself the sacred work of primary
education. If the government cannot shoulder the responsibility, then it should establish a
powerful central institution which may compel the district boards and the municipalities to
start the work of compulsory primary education in their respective areas within a definite
period.
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4. Supply of teachers: It is essential that teachers should be provided more facilities and they
should be attracted towards teaching work by conferring upon them more honour and respect.
In the beginning, the teachers with essential qualifications can be selected as teachers, no
matter whether they are trained or not. Thereafter among these teachers some may be sent to
training schools on government expenses.

5. Teachers training and grant-in-aid: The training schools should be established not only in
the urban areas but also in the rural areas. The men and women of both the places may
receive training in this school at less expense. The government or local boards should meet
the whole expenditure of the teachers training. The primary schools should be given liberal
grant-in-aid to enable them to purchase teaching equipment.

6. Establishment of schools: Problem of the lack of buildings can be solved through a shift
system. In the shift system different students can be called to receive education in different
shifts at different timings.

7. Suitable curriculum: In order to remove narrow and unsuitable curriculum the education of
crafts should be given in the primary schools in accordance with the local needs and
requirements. This will increase the interest of the children in education. They will be
benefited by the knowledge they will acquire.

8. Wastage and stagnation: To remove the problem of wastage and stagnation the educational
system should be reformed, teaching methods should be made interesting and the
environment inside and outside the school should be reformed. The guardians should also be
educated and social problems relating to education should also be solved.

Problems and Issues of Secondary Education

INTRODUCTION:

Secondary Education starts with classes’ ix-x, leading to the higher secondary classes of XI-XII.
It serves as a bridge between elementary and higher education and prepares young persons
between the age group of 14-18 years for entry into the world of work or for entry into higher
education. Adolescents who form the population for secondary education continue to constitute
nearly 1/5th of the total population of the country.

The following are the problems of Secondary Education:

1. Aimlessness: To counter this problem there should be an increase in the development of

professional skill, development of personality, leadership and democratic citizens.
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2. Unsuitable curriculum: the curriculum of secondary schools is unsuitable because of

being single track. All the students have to study one fixed curriculum and they do not
get the opportunity to select subjects according to their interest and desires due to lack of
availability of subjects in a state like Meghalaya. The curriculum is not related to the
environment and practical life.

3. Indiscipline: Indiscipline among the students is the result of an aimless educational

system, examination system etc. Some of the other causes are loss of higher spiritual
values, poor political system and also wretched economic conditions of teachers.

4. Low standard of teaching: Low standard of teaching is also one of the cheap problems
of secondary education. The teachers can perform only when they are given proper
facilities and a place of respect in the society. Many schools do not have sufficient funds
for basic necessities to run the educational system. These shortcomings adversely affect
the standard of teaching.

5. Lack of vocationalisation: There is no diversification in the curriculum of secondary

education due to its single track. It has not given importance to vocationalisation, which
is a very important aspect in the stage of secondary education for the students as it will
help them to develop certain skills for their future courses or profession.

6. Wastage and stagnation: In a state like Meghalaya where the percentage of educated
parents is very low leads to poor parental control over their children. It results in
sufficient guidance and counselling and lack of motivation for the students. It results in
increasing the number of dropouts in secondary education. Insufficient financial aid also
results in wastage and stagnation of the students due to the need for fulfilling the basic
necessities of the family.

7. Management of secondary schools: As compared to the government schools the

condition of the district boards and municipal schools is very miserable. Schools run by
private bodies are on the principle of business and they augment the income of their
managers. As they are run on profit bases they cannot be expected to render real service
for the cause of education. Whereas in government schools there is very poor functioning
of the authorities.

8. Problem of expansion: the rapid population growth has necessitated the quantitative
expansion of education in every state. As an attempt is being made to provide educational
facilities to all, even those children are admitted who are very low in general ability and
also their family background is very low. Due to the rise in the number of schools,
colleges and universities, those persons had to be appointed as teachers without proper
training for teaching. The number of students in its class has increased enormously. All
these have adversely affected higher education and its standard has fallen down.
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9. Lack of facilities and motivation: Due to lack of the necessary facilities the atmosphere
in an institution is not encouraging. It has led to a fall in the standard of education. This is
due to the lack of trained teachers, libraries, laboratories and workshops in educational
centres. It does not motivate the students to attend to their studies. Also some institutions
do not have suitable buildings, playgrounds and materials for sports and games.

REMEDIES FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION:

1. Appropriate curriculum: the curriculum should be able to develop the different abilities
and capability of the students, it should diversify and be flexible so that it may be
according to the needs and interest of the students. The curriculum should be related to
the social life of the students.

2. Removing indiscipline: To remove widespread indiscipline among the students proper

attention should be given in developing the following factors: a. loss of high spiritual
values, political changes and defective mode of examination

3. Standard of teaching: The standard of teaching can be raised by appointing various

inspectors at different levels who would make necessary suggestions. The teachers should
be sent to training institutions from time to time in order to acquaint them with the latest
teaching methods.

4. Need of vocationalisation: secondary education should be vocationalised in a large

measure at both the stages of education. The student should be given opportunities for
acquiring practical knowledge in the professions in which they are interested.

5. Proper management of secondary schools: The problem of management of secondary

schools can be solved if the government takes the management of all the non-government
schools by making necessary law in this regard to improve the quality education of
secondary level.

Problems and Issues of Higher Education in Meghalaya

INTRODUCTION:

Meghalaya is a hilly state in North-eastern India. The name Meghalaya means, “The Abode of
Clouds”. The population of Meghalaya as of 2016 is estimated to be 3,211,474 approximately.
Meghalaya has a literacy rate 62.56 as per the 2001 Census and is the 27th most literate State in
India. There had been a rapid increase in literacy in 2011 which touched 75.5% of its population.
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Though Meghalaya literacy rate has increased rapidly in the 2011 census as compared to 2001
there are issues and concerns that still act as hurdles towards education in general and higher
education in particular.

Following are some of the problems and issues that Meghalaya face in higher education:

1. Inadequate physical infrastructures: Quality of education is possible when facilities,

resources and technologies are upgraded with adequate funds. Most of the colleges in
Meghalaya are not accredited by NAAC. Those colleges which are accredited by NAAC
get woefully lower grades due to such issues as low quality input, inadequate
teacher-student ratio, poor communication etc. As a result prospective grants are also
curtailed.
2. Dearth of Trained Teachers in Meghalaya: The success of education to a very large
extent depends upon the quality of teachers. In Meghalaya, most of the teachers are
untrained or inexperienced and they are inefficient in their teaching. Therefore the
programme of in-service training should be followed on a very large scale so that the
untrained teachers would be trained.
3. Lack of Guidance and Counselling: There is no provision for giving proper guidance
and counselling to the students. Hence the student selects their courses of study according
to their own choice or within the advice of experienced persons. Many students select
subjects which are either against their interest and tendencies or which they are not
capable of studying.
4. Lack of innovative outlook and research: Most of the higher educational institutions in
Meghalaya lack innovative outlook and ingredients of research which also hinders the
development of the teachers, students and the overall infrastructure of the institution.
Many colleges are still following the traditional mode of teaching and learning instead of
adopting modern technological aids and gadgets to help improve classroom learning.
5. Curriculum Design: The prescribed courses of study do not pay much attention to
inculcate social efficiency and foster the right attitude to the students. Curriculum has
failed to achieve the real goals in education. It has neither served the interest of the
students nor has it been able to serve the needs of the society. The present curriculum is
narrowly conceived and theoretical. It is dominated too much by examinations.
Curriculum does not cater to the needs of the students. The curriculum does not
encourage the originality, intelligent understanding of basic concepts and fundamental
knowledge of the students. Therefore, it has been urged that Higher education institutions
should listen carefully to the needs and expectations of the changing society. So,
designing a perfect curriculum for all ages and for all groups is itself a challenging task
for all the Higher Educations.
6. System of Education: Education is information based rather than knowledge based. The
whole focus is on cramming information rather than understanding it and analysing it.
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7. Defective Examination System: The examinations in Meghalaya are conducted out of

the contents given in the textbooks. Thus, emphasis is given on learning factual content
without using their insight ability, reasoning etc. Simply the memorization of the content
helps the students to pass examinations.
8. Lack of proper supervision: supervision is the backbone of the educational
improvement, says the Education Commission(1964-66).Grants are not adequate for the
construction of buildings, hostels for the equipment of library and laboratory and
acquisition of teaching aids to improve the educational standards. Lack of finance is one
of the major impediments in Meghalaya. The sanctioned by the Government is not
adequate to meet the expenditure, whatever money is allotted, it is not well spent as well
as adequate.
9. The Method of Teaching is not Flexible: The method of teaching is not flexible
according to the local needs and situations in the state. One method is not applicable and
helpful for all types of students. Teachers are not trained in the proper method of teaching
according to the local needs, the implementation of which is a difficult task.
10. Teaching quality: Another issue that Higher education in a state like Meghalaya is facing
the decreasing teaching quality. Teachers are not well trained and qualify for the job they
are assigned to. Some colleges recruit young graduates as professors who have no
experience or knowledge. So this is a big problem.
11. Lack of Adolescence Education: In Meghalaya the population of adolescents is
growing. Sexual activity among the adolescent is also growing. As a result the student in
Higher education becomes a drop out and unsuccessful in their studies. They become
unemployed and fail to contribute to society. Lack of adolescence education makes the
students face early marriage and immature family life. They become parents before they
are mentally, intellectually and socially prepared.
12. No Project-based Learning: Higher education lack of project based learning. Young
graduates need to learn new skills, especially vocational skills that can give them jobs but
we are not focussing on project based learning at all. Theory is not enough, we also need
practical knowledge also.
13. Linguistic Problems: Language is one of the problems in higher education in
Meghalaya. The medium of instruction in higher education is in English which is not the
mother tongue of the students. Students who are not exposed much to urban life and the
English language find it difficult to cope up with their studies. Students somehow pass
their examination by memorising some selected topic. In the lower classes textbooks
were in English but teachers explained the lesson in their mother tongue. Thus, they did
not learn to express their views and learn in English.
14. Lack of Institutions for Higher Education: In Meghalaya there is less number of
institutions for higher education. The population goes on increasing each year but the
institutions do not increase much. In the existing colleges students are overcrowded and
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teachers as well as students are irregular. The result obtained in the examination is very
low in percentage.

15. Economic Problems: The state remains economically backward due to inadequate transport
and communication, problem of land, lack of marketing facilities, low per capita income and
problems of industrial development. As a result students cannot complete their higher studies due
to financial problems.

17. Family Problems: Family plays a great role in education. Student’s relationships with
parents, siblings and other relatives contribute to emotional, health and intellectual development.
Lack of proper conditions for studying at home, worry due to lack of education of the parents
and difficulty due to the family’s economic condition. It is also the problem of higher education.
Personal health conditions have become a problem in higher education.

Remedies of Higher Education

1. Provision of Physical Infrastructures: The physical infrastructures should be developed.

Facilities, resources and technologies should be provided in the existing institutions so as to
make the students learning adequate and upgrade the standard.

2. Increase the number of Trained Teachers: The programme of in-service training should be
followed on a very large scale so that all the existing untrained teachers would be trained. Those
who are trained should take advantage of summer institutes, vocation courses and other refresher
and orientation courses.

3. Increase the Number of Professional Counsellor: More persons are to be sent for
counselling courses. There should be a provision of experienced and trained persons to provide
guidance and counselling to the students from the beginning to the end. Trained counsellors
should be appointed in every institution that they guide the students to make decisions in their
life.

4. Establishment of more Institutions for Higher Education: More colleges and universities
should be established in order to accommodate students for higher education. It will check the
wastage and dropouts too.

5. Improve Economic life of People: In order to bring success to higher education, the
economic life of the people should be improved by establishing better roads, transport and
communications systems to sell their produce of agriculture and increase vocational education.

6. Job Guaranteed Course: The Government should conduct in every institution the job
guaranteed courses to make the students interested in higher studies and earn their livelihood
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7. Methods of Teaching: The teachers in higher education should be equipped with different
methods of teaching to make the teaching effective and practical. Teaching methods should be
adopted according to the capacity of the students. The methods of teaching should be adopted
according to the standard of the students and remedial teaching is necessary in case of poor
students

8. Quality Education: Education provided should be quality and meet the needs of the students.
It should allow them to enhance skills and get better employment options.

9. Education Policy: Educational Policy needs frequent updates. It should cover the personality
development aspect of students. It should also imbibe values of culture and social services.

10. The system of examination should be changed. More attention is to be paid to test the
student’s intellectual ability and is more practical. It should be less theoretical.

11. Proper supervision and assistance should be done timely by the responsible authorities and
provide sufficient assistance in the establishment of adequate libraries, equipment, and
laboratories to bring up the standards of higher education.

12. Adolescence education must be given in every institution to prevent students from early
marriage.

13. The suitable curriculum should be constructed to meet the needs of the students. Curriculum
should meet the goal of education in higher level