Author(s): Mousumi Gorai
Abstract:
The evolution of India’s education system from the colonial period to the present day reflects a dynamic interplay of political, social, and economic forces. During the British Raj, education policies such as Macaulay’s Minute on Education and Wood’s Despatch reshaped traditional learning by introducing English-medium instruction and a Western-oriented curriculum, primarily to serve colonial administrative needs. After independence in 1947, India reoriented its education system toward nation-building, social equity, and economic development through significant reforms, including the recommendations of the Kothari Commission, which laid the foundation for a uniform structure and emphasized equal access. In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the system expanded rapidly, influenced by globalization, technological advancement, and the growing demand for skilled human resources. Legislative measures such as the Right to Education Act ensured universal access to elementary education, while transformative policies like the National Education Policy introduced structural reforms, multidisciplinary learning, and a focus on critical thinking and digital integration. Despite notable progress in access and institutional development, challenges such as quality disparities, regional inequalities, and the digital divide persist.
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