Yet Another Debate on “The Broken Educational System”

By Sadhika on

I do not deny that the educational system is seriously lacking in many respects, including incompetent teachers, outdated curricula, not to mention prejudice towards certain ideological narratives that it pushes onto kids. We are all on the same page when it comes to recognising that educational institutions repeatedly abdicate their responsibility when it comes to educating young people, imparting life skills, helping them form a cohesive narrative through the subjects they teach, applying theoretical learning to real-life scenarios, inculcating prudent decision making ability and fostering a culture of inquiry. But that does not absolve the student from his responsibility of educating himself. Even when (or especially when) the educational institutes fall short.

Think of it this way: for argument’s sake, let’s say that every step of the educational process that should have gone right, went wrong. Your teachers were ineffective, your school overemphasised standardised testing methods and neglected holistic education, and your parents either refused to take interest in your school studies, or pushed you towards a single conventional career path such as that of a doctor or an engineer. Worse still, perhaps your parents were uneducated or semi-educated and failed to guide you as well as they would’ve liked. 

You still have to make your way in the world. You still have to get a job, think for yourself, be aware of your country’s (and the world’s) history, learn to introduce yourself in an interview, participate in intelligent conversations, and contribute towards improving the tiny corner of the world you inhabit. Seeing as there is no way out of it, don’t settle for collecting a list of things that went wrong in your education. 

I see far too many young people blame their educational institutions or their teachers, even their parents, for not giving them the education they deserved. Three or four years in college - I’m sure we all had our share of crazy parties, road trips and hangovers. But how many books did you read during those years that weren’t part of the syllabus? How many hours did you spend in the library looking up random things that interest you? How many extra courses did you sign up for? How many mentors did you seek out? Before you blame everyone and everything else that supposedly held you back from all the great things you could have achieved, ask yourself: What did I do to educate myself?

Don’t take the easy road of simple-minded cynicism about the system. Our generation has a massive advantage during the years of their youth (both during and after college) - we have access to resources. Don’t study just for the grade. Don’t depend on externally imposing structures like classes and examinations. Read literature. Write essays on what you feel strongly about. Know your own history. Seek out mentors and annoy them with relentless questions. Take part in contests. If indeed the system is broken, at least fix your own self.

If you’re a college student reading this, remember, right now, you are invincible. You get to spend three or four years of your adult life with barely any of its responsibilities. You have little to no bills to pay. You have tremendous amounts of energy and enthusiasm. And you have outstanding courage. Don’t look at the world through perspectives that demolish your own motivation. You are too young to be so defeatist. Least of all by cynicism.

Above all, look for the truth. It’s accessible, now more than ever and it’s yours for the taking.

Image Source: Dead Poets Society (1989)

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