One of the key differences that are usually brought up within the Indian Education Vs Foreign Education debate is the following points.
- Foreign Education System is designed in such a way that it focuses on preparing students for life, unlike the Indian education system that prepares students for colleges and university entrance exams only, if not preparing students in the art of rote-learning.
- The Indian education system is theory-based, while the foreign education systems are practically based, which focuses on skills and knowledge in the literal sense of the word.
- In the Indian education system, there are no fluid movements, everything is packed in rigid structures (the very opposite of the nature of the learning process). In other words, students can not choose their own subjects. They have to choose streams, which are again packed with similar subjects together. In Foreign education systems, students choose subjects, there is no concept of streams as such. If a student likes Biology and Fine Arts, he or she can choose both. They make their own choices of subjects including sports, various societies the students can join, theatre, arts, and even boxing, rugby cheerleading, etc.
- Unlike in the Indian education system, extracurricular activities are not just one period given to students in a week, it is much more than that. Sports, activities, theatre, drama, arts, music, etc are the very centre of the syllabus with their own school societies which students become a part of. The emphasis on these activities is also one of the key points why universities and colleges abroad have more attention on the choice of subjects the student has chosen, the societies he was a part of, the role of leadership (if they have played any) such as the president of societies, student body president, which is usually elected t\by the students vote, etc.
- Students choose the streams that have been ready-made and tailored for generations. For example, the Science stream contains subjects of Physics, Biology, Chemistry, or Mathematics. Similarly, the other streams are also cut out and shaped, for students to “choose”, that is if you score high enough. The students choose a stream based on the career or fields it will open for them. Hence, as such there is no emphasis on the subject matter, the type of education they will get, the learning they will get, etc. In the foreign education system, no streams exist only subjects. Students can choose whatever subject combination they wish to choose. Architecture with Art and Chemistry, plus theatre and Accountancy, for example.
- The students studying in a foreign education system have the flexibility to change their majors in college even after a year. In fact, they count on students to change their majors, and hence they have the facility for students where they can change majors during a course. This type of flexibility is nil in the Indian Education system. Whatever major the student has chosen, he or she is stuck with it for life.
- The international curriculum followed by schools and universities alike in the Foreign education system is always up-to-date and regularly revised. It is designed keeping in mind the recruiters and the sector’s demands. Students are taught precisely what is needed to be taught according to the current market demands. In the Indian Education system, well let’s just say that the last time the entire syllabus was revamped and renovated was when the Indian education system was born itself.
- The idea of scholarships in the foreign education system is very intrinsic. Students of all backgrounds and educational abilities can get scholarships from universities and colleges. Students in the Indian Education system can not really count on the minimum amount of money help from any university or college alike.
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