Indian education stands out globally as one of the most comprehensive and high-quality education systems, rivaling those found in both developing and developed countries.
The sheer scale of the system is immense, encompassing over a million schools and housing more than 36,000 higher education institutions.
In recent years, significant advancements have been noted, particularly in the improvement of the literacy rate and the sex ratio within schools.
Overall, the Indian education system is viewed as a world-class progressive system that is continually experimenting to enhance the learning experience for its students.
In fact, the Modi 2.0 government recently issued a budget specifically aiming to elevate India’s education system to a world-class standard.
1. City Montessori School is the world’s largest school
The City Montessori School in Lucknow, India, holds the title of the world’s largest school, according to the current edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.
This monumental institution was founded in 1959 by Bharti and Jagdish Gandhi. It began humbly with only five pupils and a borrowed sum of 300 rupees. Today, the school’s scale is staggering, serving approximately 40,000 students.
To educate this massive student body, the City Montessori School employs roughly 2,500 teachers.
This growth from five students to tens of thousands exemplifies the vast scale of educational institutions within India and their foundational entrepreneurial spirit.
2. Nalanda University is the world’s oldest continuously operating university
Nalanda University holds a distinguished place in history as the world’s oldest functioning university. Located originally in Taxila, also known as Takshashila, this historic institution was founded between 600 and 500 BC.
It was first established during the Gupta Dynasty Period. During its initial period of operation, the university offered 68 different courses for students to study.
Later, the institution was heavily influenced by Buddha Ideologies, as many Buddhists began to educate students there.
The university remained closed for a significant period until 2006 when President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam championed its reopening. It was finally resurrected in 2014, beginning operations again with 15 students.
3. Poverty impacts school attendance
A significant challenge facing the system relates to poverty, as government statistics from 2011 showed that 21.2 percent of India’s population was living in poverty. Children living in these conditions are statistically more likely to drop out of school.
This trend occurs because their primary worry is ensuring the survival of their family, making education a secondary concern.
For the poor, education is often perceived as a luxury, something that only the wealthy can afford in terms of both time and money.
This perspective needs to be shifted. One recommended approach is dedicating more funds specifically toward the construction of schools in underprivileged parts of India.
This would allow students direct access to education and enable schools to work around the demanding schedules of people who are caring for their families.
4. The National Institute of Technology (NIT) has a beach of its own
The National Institute of Technology, Karnataka (NITK), a public research university, offers a truly unique amenity: its own private beach. The campus is situated on a large 250-acre plot of land directly adjacent to the Arabian Sea’s beach.
Although the beach is accessible from anywhere outside of NITK, the campus provides its students with a private connection. A gate on the NITK campus opens up onto a pleasant green path leading directly to the seashore.
This feature allows students the unusual perk of being permitted to visit the beach even after the college has closed for the day, offering a fantastic location for relaxation and study breaks.
5. In India, children between the ages of 6 and 14 receive free and compulsory schooling
A pivotal step in democratizing education occurred in India when the Indian Parliament passed the landmark Right to Education Act in August 2009.
This legislation dictates that schooling for all children between the ages of 6 and 14 must be free and compulsory.
This comprehensive act has resulted in significant improvements and advancements in educational access across the country. For instance, since the implementation of this mandate, India has observed a rise in its literacy rates.
Furthermore, the student population participating in the educational system increased notably, showing a 5% growth between the years 2010 and 2015.
This progress highlights the Act’s success in expanding enrollment and access to primary and middle schooling.
6. Is it possible to start an MBA program directly after graduating from high school? Yes!
Surprisingly, the Indian education system allows students to begin an MBA program directly after graduating from high school.
This is facilitated by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore, which offers a unique Integrated Curriculum in Management.
This five-year program is structured to ultimately lead participants to attain a master’s degree in business administration.
The curriculum format is straightforward: the first three years are dedicated to covering the standard graduation syllabus.
Following that, the remaining two years transition into the master’s level coursework. Notably, the course structure eliminates the need for separate tests or entrance exams between the undergraduate and postgraduate stages, streamlining the educational path for aspiring business professionals.
7. Banaras Hindu University is Asia’s largest residential campus
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) holds the distinction of being Asia’s largest residential campus.
The source also notes that BHU is considered the largest residential university in the world. This massive institution occupies an expansive area of up to 1,300 acres.
The land for the university was generously provided by the hereditary monarch of Banaras, Kashi Naresh. Today, BHU serves a vast population of approximately 20,000 students who are pursuing higher education.
To accommodate these students, the university provides services across six institutes and operates more than 60 hostels.
Additionally, BHU has a historical link to notable political figures, as Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s first Vice-President and second President, served as the university’s Vice-Chancellor until January 1948.
8. One out of every 40 elementary schools is held in tents or open places with unqualified instructors
Unfortunately, structural issues persist in primary education, particularly in rural areas. A striking statistic reveals that one out of every 40 elementary schools in India is conducted in tents or open places, often led by unqualified instructors.
This situation is primarily due to inadequate funding being provided to rural regions and primary schools. Consequently, children in remote areas are denied access to structured primary education.
They frequently lack access to basic educational tools such as pencils, pens, paper, and chalkboards.
Furthermore, international organizations, including UNICEF, have pointed out that incompetent teachers pose a significant problem within the Indian education system.
World Education News + Reviews (WENR) reports that these teachers often have minimal certification requirements.
9. In India, preschool schooling is not required and is quite uncommon
Unlike mandatory schooling for older children, preschool schooling in India is not required and remains quite uncommon.
The Right to Education Act deliberately prioritized compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14, meaning early childhood education is not always given high priority.
This lack of prioritization is reflected in budget allocations. Higher education institutions receive more than 30% of the overall educational budgets, which leaves the education provided for children under the age of six impoverished.
Although important to lay foundational skills, the funding imbalance means that access to quality, structured preschool programs remains limited for many families across India.
10. Girls account for a disproportionately large share of overall out-of-school children
A major gender disparity exists in school attendance, as girls account for a disproportionately large share of overall out-of-school children.
Child labor in rural areas is a key factor, requiring youngsters, predominantly female, to work on farms or in homes to earn a living.
Despite the Right to Education Act (RTE) mandating attendance, opposition to sending females to school persists in some areas, leading parents to push more girls than boys to drop out to assist at home. Nevertheless, progress is visible.
The RTE Act facilitated improvements like increasing the number of walled school grounds and doubling girls’ bathrooms by 2016, reducing a crucial safety risk.
As a result, the number of out-of-school females aged 11 to 14 dropped substantially, falling from 10.3% in 2006 to just 4.1% in 2018.
Alicia Richards