The World
of
Education

Prof. Dr. S.V. Raghavan

Vice-Chancellor, SCSVMV

I am in to my 5th decade of academic life, of which a good number of years were spent in gaining experience in working with global universities, organizations, Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu. During my long career, I have come across thousands of students of different caliber. Interestingly, all those youngsters had one thing in common; passion and dedication. That is amazing. Many of my students still recount all the enjoyable things that they remember as a part of class or as a part of discussions in the laboratory or many casual corridor chats. At any time, I had at least three generations of students and researchers in the laboratory. It was an amazing community around me. Most of them celebrated Diwali with my family in our campus residence year after year! 

During our discussions many questions related to education were tossed around, whenever we discussed the context around a research problem. The main reason was that each and every one participating in the discussion used to justify “why they are saying what they are saying”, for the benefit of others; hearing the individual narration was a revelation to others because all of them invariably had a different education, social,  and cultural background! I thought it appropriate to share some of them with the aspiring students. The main reason is that they asked exactly the same questions that the current generation is asking. When I travelled around, when the aspiring students asked questions related to higher education, I was reminded of these wonderful conversations. I thought that my reminiscence of my past is best shared as a dialogue as is given here. I hope the reader finds it interesting.

One day a student asked me. Sir, it is too late and perhaps irrelevant for me. But I wanted to ask someone. Therefore, I am asking you. As a student, I did not know that I transcend different levels in a structured education system. But often I was confronted with some strange expressions that seem to imply that what I have been through so far, is insufficient. It is always counter intuitive as I know for sure that I have struggled very hard to reach a particular stage. Even today I hear expressions such as Elementary, Middle, Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary, and so on… What are these?

My response was that it is all simple. First of all, do not worry in life. You are doing exceedingly well. The fact you are here talking to me is a testimony. All these systems that you mentioned, are conventions created over a period of time. We can call them an abstract representation. Remember, Human Beings, that too young ones, define future with no limitations! In the adjoining figure you will find the parents taking the child to an Elementary school (see left bottom) and the child (Boy or Girl) comes out on the top right after completing the twelve years of education successfully.

Remember, Human Beings, that too young ones, define future with no limitations! The rate of progress is very high in the information age that we are in. Challenges abound.

Having said that let me explain each one of them. Primary education refers to Classes I to VIII. Of these, Classes I to V are called Elementary Level Education and Classes VI to VIII are called Middle Level Education. Classes IX to XII are called Secondary Level Education. Of these, Classes XI and XII are called Higher Secondary. When you say a student has passed Plus 2, it means that the student has learnt all that can be learned in a School system. In other words, if you have passed your Class XII, then you have completed Higher Secondary Level of Education. You become eligible to enter the Higher Education System. One can pursue Higher Education either in a College or in a University.

It would be wonderful to understand the way the education system is structured. You start off with a play school, move to Kindergarten, then enter the formal education system in Class I. That is the start of the Elementary School. In the elementary education, you come across languages and science in a broader sense. Of course Mathematics, because at that level Mathematics is common to any study in future. Civic studies encompassing History and Geography is included to open your eyes to the world around you. Of late, one tries to bring in environmental awareness as well. It is evolving.

When you get to middle school, Science becomes Physics, Chemistry, Biology; may be treated as same subject or different identified parts of Science. Mathematics is beginning to become daunting to many! Civic studies becomes History, Geography, Environmental Studies, Civilizations and so on… When you get to Higher classes the focus is beginning to become sharper.

When you are in Higher Secondary, you are beginning to be labelled. The stream you select defines your interests in a broader sense.  Consciously or unconsciously, you start moving towards what you want to become in life! Science stream, Biology stream, Commerce stream, and so on… Actually, you still retain all choices. It depends on how serious you are with respect to the study that attracts you. Of course, the World of Education that you enter will also play a role in shaping you further. This structure might undergo some changes when the New Education Policy gets in place.

What happens when I finish Plus 2? What are my options? How do I choose? 

Well. It is a loaded question. Your question(s) have a long answer. You have to be patient when I explain. May I proceed? Are you guys listening? Good. When you finish Plus 2, you become eligible to enter the World of Higher Education. That means you can join a College or University and study further. For the first time you will encounter expressions such as Professional Course, Management Course, etc.

Traditionally, education prepared individuals to understand the world around; therefore, focus was on Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages, Psychology, and Philosophy. Later, as Science advanced significantly in the nineteenth and twentieth century and became a significant part of formal education. 

You have studied several subjects until your Plus 2; some in depth. Supposing you are from Science stream, you would have studied Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. 

You could pursue your studies in any one of these, depending on your interest in the subject. So, you join B.Sc. degree program in the Branch of interest. Wherever you join, they will teach you different aspects of that Branch of Science over a period of 3 years. Perhaps, you will follow it up with a postgraduate degree in the same Branch. You may even pursue your Doctoral Studies in some special area of that chosen Branch of Science.

Basically, there are two type of studies one can get in to; they are, Arts, Science, and Commerce programs and Professional programs. As you can see in the adjoining figure, the possible studies in professional programs further branch as engineering, management, law, and medicine. If you drill down further, engineering education has several branches such as Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Instrumentation, and so on. Some of these education programs can be had in colleges that are affiliated to universities and almost all of them can be had directly from universities. One decides based on the brand value, market perception, and reputation of an institution. For example, SCSVMV has the Shankaracharya Brand, Value-based education as the market perception, led by people with high academic and administrative reputation.

What is that one can study under Arts, Science, and Commerce?

Every one of these areas are extremely interesting and exciting. If you are person with a natural flair for languages, you may want to consider Sanskrit, English, or Tamil. Any language, when mastered for its beauty and elegance, enhances one’s ability to be expressive and impressive at the same time. If you are interested in the society and its welfare, you may want to focus on Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, History, Geography, and Archaeology. These subjects help you understand the progress of human civilization over thousands of centuries!

My observations so far about education after school raises an important question. What about one’s livelihood? Which job will I get? How much pay? There are no specific answers to these questions even though they are very relevant in the contemporary society. Permit me be a little philosophical here.  Whenever one chooses a field of study, it is for self-satisfaction and for enhancing individual’s knowledge. The monetary rewards automatically follow those who excel in their chosen pursuits. One can always become a teacher of the subject out of shear interest and impart education to the next generation. Of course, you can administer the nation, if you choose to! That raises the following question.

How do I join the Indian Administrative service (IAS)?

For joining what is known as All India Civil Services, you have to finish any degree program and pass the Civil Services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Once you pass these examinations, you can choose to enter Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and so on. There are a number of them. Then your career is made. The key is that you have to be an exemplary student. Once you enter IFS, you can progressively rise in your career to become India’s Ambassador to United States of America. Once you enter IAS, you can progressively rise in your career, starting from being a Collector of a district, all the way up to become India’s Cabinet Secretary. Once you enter IAS, you can progressively rise in your career to become DG/IG of Police in a state or Chief of Internal or External Intelligence for India. These are very powerful positions that let you serve India with pride and be a change agent. Again, it depends you as an individual. When you join SCSVMV, you get to interact with these giants even when you are a student and be inspired. SCSVMV also creates opportunities for the students to listen to some of these personalities through the Extramural Lecture programs.

Often students out of school ask the question; how do I become a Scientist like Einstein, Sir C V Raman, Homi Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai…? Can I get Nobel Prize?

Of course, anyone can get Nobel Prize. You have to be exceptional. It is awarded for Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Peace, and Literature every year. If you graduate from SCSVMV at the age of 20 and live up to say 80 years of age, you have 60 chances of becoming a Nobel Laureate! All science areas have significantly advanced in the twentieth century. The rate of progress is very high in the information age that we are in. Challenges abound.

The student of today can start with a B.Sc. of a flavor that is appealing to them and progress through the education chain, complete M.Sc. and Ph.D. Publish one’s work in Nature, the prestigious journal in the world today. Follow the work of Scientists around the world. One day you can become the Nobel laureate. At SCSVMV, you will have opportunities to listen to some of those living legends of Science.  Besides, SCSVMV has a rich traditional Sanskrit literature that describes advanced Science that was in vogue centuries ago. One can get inspiration from there.

SCSVMV has a rich traditional Sanskrit literature that describes advanced Science that was in vogue centuries ago. One can get inspiration from there.

There are at least three large scientific organizations in India; they are, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Indian Space Research Organization, and Defense Research and Development Organization. There are a number of laboratories focused on various aspects of science, medicine, and agriculture under Council of Scientific and Industrial research, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Indian Council of Agricultural Research. If you study science of your choice, you can aspire to enter a career in any one of these organizations. All of them have excellent facilities comparable to the best in the world. Of course, you have to shape yourself to be the best of the lot.

I like Commerce. What can I do after B.Com.? What are the avenues open for exploration?

I am happy that you asked for “avenues to explore”. That is a good one. Commerce teaches you the nuances of the business world from a “technical” point of view. Commerce teaches you the rule of the game in an India as well as in global setting. one focus on the accounting aspect or the economic viability aspect or compliance to the law of the land. These are also certified by constitutionally enables institutions. Such certification is called Chartered Accountant or Cost Accountant or Company Secretary. 

These are to be obtained over and above the B.Com. degree. While these certifications could be obtained directly after school, doing it during or after B.Com. education makes it a lot easier. At SCSVMV we have a number of practicing professional in each one of these areas available for interaction, while you are still a student. You can either join their firm or start one of your own and be an independent finance professional.

So, I can actually plan what I want to be? Is that right?

Of course. You control your destiny. The power to shape your life is in your hands. One should understand that the opportunity space is ever expanding. 

It is up to an individual to find out the way to participate in the expansion. That is where the creativity and ingenuity of the individual comes in. These four pictures tell you a story. If you look around and spot the people you know, people you admire, and so on, they will fit in to one of these; by and large. Else, you expand the diagram and make one more.

End Note

When I started writing the inspiration was my interaction with students over several decades. While writing this article in a Q and A form, some senior faculty who hold very responsible positions in steering the institution, inspired me with some questions about studies, purpose, and livelihood, essentially reflecting the thought process of generations of students at SCSVMV; a store house of knowledge to which I was not privy to. So, what resulted is the inspiration from my past experience tempered by the observations of my esteemed colleagues in SCSVMV.

 

Whatever is said here will continue to be correct for the next 2-5 years. After that the New Education Policy 2020 would have taken root. Under the NEP 2020, the choice available in shaping one’s life will become immeasurable. The more I read the NEP 2020, the more I admire it. The flexibility embedded in the policy is the dream of every conversation of serious academics. The power of “Designing one’s Destiny” is placed in one’s hands. Kudos to those heroes who dared to think and ink such a policy for India. 

Of course, the Teacher inside the classroom will finally decide the destiny of the generations to come. I salute them.

© Professor S V Raghavan

Of course, the Teacher inside the classroom will finally decide the destiny of the generations to come. I salute them.



© Professor S V Raghavan

© Professor S V Raghavan

End Note

When I started writing the inspiration was my interaction with students over several decades. While writing this article in a Q and A form, some senior faculty who hold very responsible positions in steering the institution, inspired me with some questions about studies, purpose, and livelihood, essentially reflecting the thought process of generations of students at SCSVMV; a store house of knowledge to which I was not privy to. So, what resulted is the inspiration from my past experience tempered by the observations of my esteemed colleagues in SCSVMV.

Whatever is said here will continue to be correct for the next 2-5 years. After that the New Education Policy 2020 would have taken root. Under the NEP 2020, the choice available in shaping one’s life will become immeasurable. The more I read the NEP 2020, the more I admire it. The flexibility embedded in the policy is the dream of every conversation of serious academics. The power of “Designing one’s Destiny” is placed in one’s hands. Kudos to those heroes who dared to think and ink such a policy for India. 

Of course, the Teacher inside the classroom will finally decide the destiny of the generations to come. I salute them.