Education in India. Education in India Regional features of the development of the education system in India

The education system in modern India, on the one hand, is constantly being improved in accordance with the latest innovative developments in education, and on the other hand, it is rooted in ancient times, in tradition guru-shishya, transfer of knowledge from teacher to student.

According to the Hindu concept of four stages of life- ashrams, apprenticeship period, brahmacharya, was one of the main stages of human life, without the proper implementation of which a person simply could not take place in life and fulfill his destiny.

In those located at monasteries or directly at the teacher’s home - guru ancient Indian schools called gurukula, high-born students studied for free the basics of Hinduism and philosophy, Ayurveda and astrology, memorized huge passages from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, became acquainted with Sanskrit classical literature and the art of government, and also acquired weapons skills. It was believed that the guru gives his disciples a second birth, and therefore he should be revered on a par with father and mother. Upon completion of training, students were required to complete guru-dakshina, a ritual of gratitude to the teacher, which could consist of either presenting valuable gifts or money to the guru, or unquestioningly fulfilling his will.

The university system also developed in ancient India, among which are educational institutions in Takshashila (Taxila) (according to some dates, 5th century BC, now belongs to Pakistan) and Nalanda University on the territory of modern Bihar (5th century BC). AD).

The difficult history of India could not but affect educational traditions. And today, along with secular, public and private, paid and free, schools operate big number religious educational institutions, which can be located at temples or separately - Hindu ashrams, Muslim madrasah, Sikh gurudwara, Christian boarding houses. During the British rule in India, the British education system, both school and higher, became widespread, and was actively introduced in the 1830s. Lord Thomas Bebington Macaulay began. The Nobel Prize for Literature, received by Rabindranath Tagore in 1913, allowed the great poet to transform the school he had previously founded for peasant children in Shantineketan into India's first free university, which continues to operate to this day.

The education system in independent India consists of three main levels - primary (compulsory for all, covers children 6-14 years old), secondary (compulsory exams are divided into two levels, 2 and 2+, covers children 14-18 years old) and higher. The main tasks facing government bodies that control the education system are the universal distribution primary education, accessibility of education for representatives of all social classes, regardless of gender, as well as improving the quality of primary and secondary education. There is the opportunity to receive education both in one of the state and regional languages, which also applies to studying at a number of universities - most often those that operate not at the federal level, but at the state level.

By number of universities and prevalence higher education India ranks 3rd in the world after the USA and China. Many Indian universities are world famous - Indian Institute of Technologies (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Institute Mathematical Sciences Chennai (Chennai Mathematical Institute, CMI), Allahabad Agricultural Institute (new name Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technologies and Sciences Allahabad, AAIDU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), etc.

Besides full-time training, many Indian universities offer distance learning(both at the level of individual special courses and at the level of obtaining a full-fledged higher education), including for foreign students. Distance programs also exist on the basis of several universities that have united specifically to prepare such programs (for example, the universities of Madras, Calcutta and Mumbai have joint distance programs under the brand “Virtual University”).

Studying at a university for Indians can be either paid or free, which may depend not only on the level of preparation (there are a number of free universities and places, students who have received highest scores, can automatically receive scholarships for study), but sometimes also depending on the student’s origin (a system of quota places for representatives of various social groups, regtons, tribes, etc.).

Indian universities have enjoyed long-standing and well-deserved popularity among foreigners. Traditionally, many students from neighboring countries of South Asia, as well as from the African continent, come to India to study. Students from all over the world traditionally go to study in India in a number of areas in which India occupies a leading position in the world (primarily in the areas of information and innovative technologies). This is largely facilitated by a well-thought-out policy in the field of higher education - training at English language, international diplomas, reasonable prices for education and accommodation in the country.

Entry requirements for foreigners can vary greatly depending on the specific educational institution or course chosen, but almost all major federal universities offer programs for foreign students at the bachelor's (B.A.), master's (M.A.) and often postgraduate (M) levels .Phil., PhD., etc.). A system of short-term training in specific specializations and summer schools has also been developed. In some cases, foreign students are also given the opportunity to receive a scholarship for their studies, both directly from the university and from private or government funds. All information about these numerous opportunities can be found on the websites of universities of interest.

There are also government programs to finance studies in India for foreigners who work on a competitive basis. The main coordinator of such programs around the world is the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). In Russia, information about existing programs, requirements for candidates, as well as the timing of competitions can also be found on the website of the Embassy of the Republic of India in the Russian Federation. At the same time, potential students are provided with the widest range of opportunities to receive grants - both for a full course of study (ICCR scholarship), and for short-term courses for retraining or advanced training in specific specialties under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation program (ITEC program). The competition for ICCR grants is held annually, usually in winter; you can apply for an ITEC scholarship several times a year.

It is important to note that Indian scholarship programs may be of interest not only for students studying fundamental disciplines, but also for students of creative specialties. The Indian government provides grants for training in Indian schools of dance, music, etc.

See also:

Indian dances
Indian dance is a more multifaceted concept; this is a whole world inextricably linked with music, singing, theater, literature, religion and philosophy.

Centers for Indian Studies in Russia
Where in Russia they study India

Exploring Ancient India
The teaching of Indian languages ​​and literature at St. Petersburg University began in 1836, when R. H. Lenz was invited to lecture on Sanskrit and comparative linguistics. (1808-1836), but the systematic study of Indian philology began after the creation of the Faculty of Oriental Languages ​​and the opening of the Department of Indian Philology there (1958).

Centers for Russian Studies in India
Where in India they study Russia

Business in India
Currently, the Indian economy is going through a difficult process of fairly intensive integration into the world economic system

Voronezh State University(VSU) has signed an agreement on academic cooperation and student exchange with the Indian Birla Institute of Management Technologies, the Russian university reported on Monday.

Tutorials
Textbooks for students of India

EXPEDITION TO HIGHLIGHT MORAL VALUES OF TOLSTOY, GANDHI
An educational, cultural and peace-keeping mission, inculcating the high moral values ​​of Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma (Mohandas K) Gandhi has been launched in India, as part of the Festival of Russian Culture in India.

India’s Ambassador visit to Kazan
On his first visit to Kazan, capital of the largest Russian Republic Tatarstan, India’s Ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran said India was thinking about opening a permanent representative office there.

RUSSIA AND INDIA WILL EXPAND MILITARY COOPERATION WITH FOCUS ON NAVY PROJECTS
The Russian and Indian defense ministries have been instructed to expand military and military-technical cooperation, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday.

RUSSIA AND INDIA SIGN CONTRACT ON SUPPLY OF S-400 MISSILE SYSTEMS, FRIGATES
15 October 2016. RUSSIA AND INDIA SIGN CONTRACT ON SUPPLY OF S-400 MISSILE SYSTEMS, FRIGATES

Voronezh 2016

1. Education system in India…………………………………………………………….
1.1. Story Indian education and basic principles…………….
1.2. School education in India………………………………………………………...
2. Rating of the best Indian universities……………………………………………………………
3. Admission to Indian universities for foreigners………………………..
3.1. Scholarships…………………………………………………………………………………
4. Living conditions and expenses………………………………………………….
5. Features of culture, traditions……………………………………………………………
6. Pros and cons of Indian education (table)…………………..
List of references………………………………………………………...

Most Russians associate India more with relaxation, exoticism and downshifting than with a country where they can get a high-quality British-style education. Indian education is valued all over the world, including in Europe and North America. Proof of this is the many Indian students, graduate students and scientists who subsequently study or work in Western universities. India is called a “supplier of talent”, because scientists from this country make discoveries in various fields. Thus, over the past 20 years, 6 Indians have been awarded the Nobel Prize. Enroll in good university in India it is very difficult (a large population means a lot of competition for admission), and those who succeed devote themselves to their studies with all zeal and diligence.

Education system in India

History of Indian Education and Basic Principles

The history of the development of the education system in India is a long-term stage, the beginning of which, according to various estimates, falls in the 5th century.

to BC. Even then, educational institutions with the properties of a higher school were created in the ancient city of Taxila. Ancient city Taxila was considered the center of higher education in India. It was there that secular institutions first began to be established, along with Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries. These institutions attracted foreigners with training in Indian medicine. However, in addition to the study of living matter, Indian education opened the way to knowledge of logic, grammar, and Buddhist literature.

School education in India

The country adheres to the main principle of educating its citizens - “10 + 2 + 3”. This model provides for 10 years of schooling, 2 years of college, plus another 3 years of study for the first stage of higher education.

Ten years of school include 5 years of junior high, 3 years of high school, and 2 years of vocational training. The education system is clearly illustrated by a sign.

Fig.1. Education system in India.

School education in India follows a unified scheme. A child begins to study at school at the age of four. Education in the first ten years (secondary education) is free, compulsory and carried out according to the standard general education program. Main disciplines: history, geography, mathematics, computer science and a subject freely translated by the word “science”. From the 7th grade, “science” is divided into biology, chemistry, and physics, which are familiar in Russia. "Politics", the equivalent of our natural sciences, is also taught.

If in the first stage school education In India, the program is the same for everyone, then upon reaching the age of fourteen and moving to high school (complete secondary education), students make a choice between fundamental and vocational education. Accordingly, there is an in-depth study of the subjects of the chosen course.

Preparation for entering universities takes place in schools. Students who chose professional education, go to colleges and receive secondary specialized education. India is also blessed with a large number and variety of trade schools. There, over the course of several years, in addition to secondary education, the student also receives a profession that is in demand in the country. In Indian schools, in addition to the native (regional) language, it is compulsory to study the “additional official” language - English. This is explained by the unusually large number of languages ​​of the multinational and numerous Indian people. It is no coincidence that English is the common language educational process, most textbooks are written in it. Studying a third language (German, French, Hindi or Sanskrit) is also mandatory.

Schooling runs six days a week. The number of lessons varies from six to eight per day. Most schools offer free meals for children. There are no grades in Indian schools. But there are compulsory school-wide exams twice a year, and national exams in high school. All exams are written and taken in the form of tests. The vast majority of teachers in Indian schools are men.

School holidays in India are relatively short. Rest time falls in December and June. IN summer holidays, which last a whole month, children's camps are opened in schools. There, in addition to relaxation and entertainment, traditional creative educational activities are held with children.

The Indian school system includes both government and private schools. Secondary school education in public schools is usually free. For children from low-income Indian families, of which there are quite a few in this country, there are benefits in the form of textbooks, notebooks, and scholarships. Education in private institutions is paid, but the prices for education there are quite affordable for families even with low incomes. Reviews of the quality of education often favor private schools. There are also elite, expensive gymnasiums that operate on individual programs.
1.3. Higher education system

India is among the world leaders in the number of universities in the country - it ranks third after the United States and China. There are now over 700 universities in India. All of them are divided according to the source of funding into 3 main types: central, local (in a particular state) and private. There are also “institutions considered as universities” (deemed universities) - they can be called institutes, colleges and so on, but, in fact, they are universities and are financed either from the state budget or from private funds. A list of all universities can be found on the website of the University Grant Commission - the commission for the distribution of grants among universities, the main government body involved in the financing of universities. A list of fraudulent universities is also displayed here. The fact is that after India gained independence in 1947, the number of universities began to grow from geometric progression. This growth continues to this day, and legislation has not kept pace with it. Due to loopholes in the laws, some universities issue degrees in fields not approved by the Indian government, so it is recommended to enroll in a large and reliable university and always check for a license.

India has joined the Bologna Process, so the education system includes a 3-tier structure:

Bachelor's degree,

Master's degree,

Doctoral studies.

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in liberal arts takes 3 years, a professional bachelor's degree takes 4 years or more (4.5 years for medicine and 5-6 years for law). The master's degree takes another 2 years. The time required to complete a PhD varies depending on the student's abilities and the student's chosen field of study.

There are also many programs, upon completion of which the student does not receive any of the above-mentioned degrees, but only a diploma or certificate. The duration of such a program can be from 1 to 3 years. There is no academic prestige here, but you can attend unique courses: Ayurveda, Sanskrit, yoga, Hindi.

No matter how many subjects a student studies in a semester, he will be certified in only four, and the rest are given for self-control. However, it is customary to attend all lectures that are on the schedule. Teachers strictly monitor attendance and persistent truants may not be allowed to take exams. A preliminary assessment is required in the middle of the semester. In this, the Indian higher education system is similar to the Russian one.

Of course, we will not consider those very colorful and stereotypical educational institutions located in particularly remote corners of the country, which are difficult to look at without tears. The educational path that is open to every foreign child and to those whose parents are willing to spend a certain amount on the development of their child will be taken as a basis, because even in public schools and universities you will have to pay.

This cannot be denied, because this is not just an ingrained stereotype, but in India there really are quite a lot of difficulties with education. This happens not only due to poverty and difficult economic conditions, but also, although only partly, the mentality of some residents.

While it cannot be denied that widespread education reform has made primary education accessible to the vast majority of children, the quality of these schools leaves much to be desired. In addition, about 50% of children do not master the subsequent stages of education due to their high cost and lack of time for the children, who are sometimes busy at work.

However, all these obvious shortcomings are not absolute, since in India you can find educational institution, which will give the child an education no worse than in the most successful European countries.

What should a preschooler do?

To begin with, it is worth noting that there are no kindergartens in our and European understanding in India. This is the tradition of this country that has developed over thousands of years, where mothers are supposed to sit with their children until a certain age, teaching them through the efforts of the entire large family.

However, due to the fact that in recent decades there has often been a situation where both parents work, and there is no opportunity at all to place the child with relatives, special groups have arisen that work with preparatory school(pre-school). Here children are divided by age and time they are expected to be away from their parents. As a rule, several hours with a teacher are spent in educational games, during which children learn not only the basics of the world, but also English and Indian languages.

It often happens that after parents choose a particular group for their child, they no longer think about choosing a school. This is because after completing the next age level in such “kindergartens”, you can simply continue your child’s education in primary school. However, there are often cases when parents carefully think about choosing a school educational institution in a separate manner.

What are the features of the Indian school?

Although primary education in India is Lately has become publicly available, many advise when choosing a school for a child to focus on private schools or especially prestigious state schools (the cost of education in which averages about $100 per month), which will have to be searched for additionally. The thing is that not all Indian educational institutions will provide you with a quality education in good conditions.
Private schools are distinguished by the fact that they very often place emphasis on equally good mastery of not only the Indian language (Hindi) and the language of the state, but also English, which years later children consider almost their second mother tongue. Subsequently, children, depending on how diligently they studied, will be able to speak fluently in three languages ​​at once. Also, they use different approaches to raising children and presenting knowledge and material, which may be of interest to people who prefer innovative methods.

You will be pleasantly surprised, but in absolutely every school in India, regardless of its status and prestige, children are fed at school. The food set is standard for everyone, it is rice with a bottle of water and masala. Products may vary at some locations.

After you choose a school that suits your child, you will need to reserve a place in advance by paying an advance reservation fee and begin preparing all the necessary documents.

Let's go to higher education or Indian institutes

In total, there are about 220 higher education institutions in the country, 16 of which are central. Especially notable among them is Nalanda University, established in the 5th century AD. e., which has its own specific flavor and long history.

It is worth noting that in India you will not find simple specialized universities, but those whose otherness and specificity are especially pronounced. For example, at the Indira Kala Sangeet, which is located in Hairagarh, they are introduced only to Indian music, and at the Calcutta Rabindra Bharati, students do not study anything except the Bengali language and Tagore studies.

The largest and most prestigious universities in India are Gandhi University, Rajasthan University, Bombay University, Mumbai University and Calcutta University. They continue to be quite popular for many years not only among the local population, but also among some foreigners.

IN last years Technical professions have become especially popular, as the growth of students and graduates of engineering and technical specialties is especially noticeable. What is important is that in a country with such progress, the demand for specialists in this profile is growing, since they are simply necessary for the developing economy of the country.
The Indian education system itself, due to its long joint history, is completely identical to the British one. There are also three stages that students master during the learning process. At each of them (Bachelor, Master or Doctor of Science), you can complete your education by receiving the corresponding diploma.

Despite the fact that India has a rather unsightly reputation in European countries, which, unfortunately, is based not only on stereotypes, it is a developing country. Here the economy and productivity are growing rapidly, and every year people are increasingly striving for knowledge by any means. Yeah, get back on your feet this moment It may not be easy here, but it is possible, and especially for those children whose families have the finances to do this.

Until 1976, education was the responsibility of the states, while the central government coordinated and determined standards for special and higher education. In 1976, in accordance with a constitutional amendment, the governments shared responsibility for this area. Since then, decisions to determine the structure of education have been made by the states. The quality and standards of education are determined by the central government. The Education Department of the Ministry of Human Resource Development shares responsibility with the states in matters of planning. The Central Education Authority, founded in 1935, continues to play a major role in developing and monitoring educational policies and programs, the main ones being the National Education Plan (1986), the Program of Action (1986) and the updated versions of these documents (1992).

The literacy rate in India has increased significantly. For the first time since independence, the number of illiterate people in the country has fallen by more than 31.9 million over the past decade. The results of the 2001 census showed that between 1991 and 2001, when population growth in age group from 7 years and above amounted to 171.6 million, another 203.6 million people became literate. Currently, the number of literate people is 562.01 million, of which 75% are men and 25% are men.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

According to the National Education Policy for the 21st century, compulsory free education Everyone under the age of 14 should receive a decent level. As a result of the efforts of the central and state governments, today almost every locality V rural areas there are primary education schools (94% available) rural population primary schools located within a 1 km radius). Secondary schools within a 3 km radius are accessible to 84% of rural residents. Thus, since independence, enrollment of children aged 6 to 14 years in primary and secondary education has increased to 87 and 50% respectively. Between 1950 and 1997 the number of these schools increased from 223 thousand to 775 thousand, while the number of teachers in them during the same period increased from 624 thousand to 3.84 million. The number of girls studying at school also increased significantly. At a certain stage, the central and state governments developed a strategy to account for children leaving school prematurely, as well as policies aimed at improving student achievement, which focused on the following aspects: 1) increasing parental involvement; 2) improvement school curriculum and the learning process (minimum required level of education); 5) district program general education and 6) national nutrition program in secondary schools. To consolidate the universal right and obligation to receive primary education, the Upper House of Parliament introduced the 83rd amendment to the Constitution. Subsequently, a group of experts on education financing, set up to examine the need for additional resources needed to introduce compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years, produced a report which is being considered by the government today. It was also created National organization on issues of primary education. The National Committee of State Education Ministers, chaired by the Minister of Human Resource Development, was set up to chart a path towards universal compulsory primary education.

In 1987, a special program (Operation Blackboard Scheme) was launched, which was designed to provide all primary schools in the country with necessary conditions for teaching, in particular, to provide two teachers to each school and school equipment. In 1993, the number of teachers provided for in the program was revised and increased from two to three, with enrollment exceeding 100 children. Also, as part of the program, the number of teachers in secondary schools increased, and additional funds were allocated for the needs of schools. teaching aids. The central government fully covers the cost of teaching aids and pays teachers' salaries during the plan period. Construction of schools is the responsibility of the states. In 1997-1998 522,902 and 125,241 textbooks were issued to all primary and secondary schools, respectively. The post of third teacher was sanctioned for introduction in 53037 primary schools ah, while 71,614 secondary schools received additional teachers. In 1999-2000 proposed to approve the introduction of a further 30,000 third teacher posts in primary schools and 20,000 additional teachers in secondary schools.

NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

In 1979, the Non-Formal Education Program was launched, which was designed to provide education to children aged 6-14 years who remained outside of formal education. The main focus of the program was 10 states with low level education, but it was also carried out in urban slums, mountainous, tribal and other backward areas.

PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT FOR UNIVERSAL EDUCATION (LOK JUMBISH)

The innovative Lok Jambish project was launched in Rajasthan. Its goal is to provide education for all. In 1997-1998 A census of schools was carried out in 4006 villages, 383 primary schools were opened, 227 primary schools were upgraded to secondary schools and 2326 informal centers were opened under the project, 286 women's associations were created. In general, the project “People's Movement for Universal Education” contributed to the qualitative improvement of education. In particular, textbooks for grades 1-4 were improved and began to be used in all schools in Rajasthan.

WOMEN'S EDUCATION

Since independence, the Government of India has taken a number of steps that have been aimed at reducing gender inequality, especially after the adoption of the National Education Policy in 1986, which provided certain benefits to women. Moreover, the document also recognizes the fact that women's education is one of the the most important conditions their participation in the country's development process. The following are the key programs and documents aimed at improving the status of women: 1) The Women's Assembly (Mahila Literacy, which contributed to increasing the demand for education, especially Samakhya) was one of the most successful attempts to strengthen the status of women and their education. The assembly operates in 46 districts; 2) Campaign for universal literacy among women. Of the 450 districts where the campaign was carried out, in most of them the share of women accounted for 60% of the total number of adult participants in the program; 3) within the framework of the school education support program (Operation Blackboard Scheme), 147 thousand teachers were employed, of which 47% were women; 4) non-formal education centers created exclusively for girls are 90% supported by the central government. The share of these centers was increased from 25 to 40%; 5) District Primary Education Program is being conducted in 163 districts with low female literacy rates; 6) vocational training; 7) The University Grants Commission encourages institutions to conduct research in the field of women's education and allocates funds for this purpose. The Commission also supported 22 universities and 11 colleges in establishing women's education centres; 9) National strategy to increase women's participation in educational fields, which is currently being finalized.

Since India's independence, the literacy rate among women has increased significantly. In 1951, only 7.3% of women were literate, in 1991 this figure reached 32.29%, and currently it is 50%.

TEACHER TRAINING

Under the National Education Policy and Action Plan 1986, the Central Government sponsored Teacher Training Reorganization Program came into force in 1987-88. The program envisaged the creation of a viable institutional infrastructure, academic and resource base for training and professional development of school teachers, adult educators and non-formal teachers. educational institutions, as well as specialists in the field of teacher retraining. As part of this program, it was decided to open an educational and preparatory institute in each district in order to provide academic support to teachers primary classes and teachers for adult and non-formal educational institutions. The program also included raising the status of teacher training institutes high school up to the level of teacher education colleges and institutes basic research in the field of education (Institutes of Advanced Studies in Education) to train newcomers and improve the qualifications of existing teachers. IASE's mission includes conducting preparatory programs for primary school teachers, professional development programs for primary and secondary school teachers and secondary school principals, basic and applied research, especially in interdisciplinary areas, training methodological manuals(guidelines) for regional educational institutions, as well as providing assistance to teacher training colleges. In total, by March 31, 1999, permits had been issued to open 451 district educational institutions, 76 teacher training colleges and 34 institutes of basic research in education in various states and union territories. Twenty Educational Research and Training Councils received financial support. A million teachers completed a preparatory course as part of a special program to determine the specialization of school teachers, during which they learned to work with educational material and equipment, and also became familiar with the requirements of the Minimum Levels of Learning, where the emphasis is on language teaching, mathematics and learning environment. In 1995, the Government of India established the National Council for Teacher Training. Its task is to ensure the planned development of the teacher training system, regulate and maintain standards and norms teacher education and etc.

HIGHER AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

Higher education can be obtained at 221 universities in the country. Among them, 16 are central universities, and the rest operate in accordance with state acts. The total number of colleges in the country is 10,555.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Technical education plays an extremely important role in the national economy and human resource development of India. Over the past half century this area education has undergone significant development. In addition to the public sector, private organizations also took part in the creation of technical and management institutions.

Trigonometry, algebra and, most importantly, the decimal number system came to us. The ancient game of chess also originates from India. Indian doctors knew caesarean sections, achieved high skill in setting bones, and plastic surgery was more developed among them than anywhere else in ancient times.

What was the Indian education system like in the past?

According to the prescriptions of the sacred writings, the education of a boy (brahmacharin) began in the fourth or fifth year of life and had to take place in the house of a brahmana mentor (guru). The student was obliged to show his mentor every respect, serving him and obeying him unquestioningly. Less attention was paid to the education of girls.

The training began with mastering the rules for performing sandhya, i.e. morning, noon and evening rituals, which consisted of reciting the Gayatri, holding the breath, swallowing and sprinkling water, and pouring a libation of water in honor of the Sun, which was more a symbol of the personal god of the believer, such as Vishnu or Shiva, rather than the deity itself to yourself. Rituals were considered obligatory for everyone and various forms are being carried out to this day.

The main subject of study was the Vedas (hymns). The mentor recited the Vedas by heart to several disciples sitting in front of him on the ground, and from morning to evening they repeated verse by verse until they were completely memorized. Sometimes, in order to achieve complete accuracy of reproduction, hymns were memorized in several ways: first in the form of coherent passages, then for each word separately (padapatha), after which the words were combined into groups according to the principle ab, bv, vg, etc. (kramapatha) or in an even more intricate way. Thanks to such a developed system of training patience and mnemonic control, many generations of mentors and students developed those exceptional memory properties that made it possible to preserve the Vedas for posterity in the exact form in which they existed approximately a thousand years BC.

The disciples who lived in the guru's house were not limited to studying only the Vedas. There were other areas of knowledge, the so-called “Parts of the Veda”, i.e. auxiliary sciences necessary for the correct understanding of sacred texts. These six Vedantas included: kalpa - the rules for performing the ritual, siksha - the rules of pronunciation, i.e. phonetics, chandas - metrics and prosody, nirukta - etymology, i.e. explanation of incomprehensible words in Vedic texts, vyakarane - grammar, jyotisha - the science of the calendar. In addition, mentors taught special secular subjects - astronomy, mathematics, literature.

Some cities became famous thanks to the famous teachers who lived in them and acquired a reputation as centers of education. Varanasi and Takshashila (Taxila) were considered the oldest and largest centers. Among the famous scholars is Panini, a grammarian of the 4th century. BC e., Brahman Kautilya, founder of the science of public administration, as well as Charaka, one of the luminaries of Indian medicine.

Although according to Smriti ideals there should be only a few students under the supervision of one mentor, nevertheless, larger ones existed in the “university cities” training centers. So in Varanas an educational institution was organized for 500 students with a relatively small number of teachers. All of them were supported by charity.

With the spread of Buddhism and Jainism, education could be obtained not only in the teacher's home, but also in monasteries. In the Middle Ages, some of them became real universities. The most famous Buddhist monastery Nalanda in Bihar. The educational program in Nalanda was not limited to the training of neophytes in the field of Buddhist religious teachings, but also included the study of the Vedas, Hindu philosophy, logic, grammar and medicine. At least 10 thousand students studied free of charge in Nalanda, served by a large staff of servants.

The Gurukul system has not disappeared in India to this day. Modern gurus are considered the embodiment of knowledge, ethics and caring, and in the image of the shishya the strong-willed component has increased, but this is still a respectful student who considers his teacher to be a beacon illuminating the right path. Thanks to the integrated approach, students become more interested in learning, easier to show curiosity and more free to create.

The word “Teacher” sounds very respectable in India, because everyone understands the importance of the role of such a person both for education and for the society of the entire country.

Teacher's Day is celebrated on September 5th, the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and is a tribute to the memory of the great teacher.

The modern education system was formed in India after the state gained independence in 1947.

The country's educational system includes several stages:

Preschool education;

School (secondary and full);

Secondary vocational education;

Higher and postgraduate education with obtaining academic degrees (bachelor, master, doctor).

The state educational system operates according to two programs. The first provides training for schoolchildren, the second - for adults. The age range is from nine to forty years. There is also a system open learning, within which several open universities and schools.

Preschool education begins with three years, training takes place in game form. The process of preparing for school lasts two years.

School education in India follows a unified scheme. A child begins to study at school at the age of four. Education for the first ten years (secondary education) is free, compulsory and follows a standard general education curriculum. Main disciplines: history, geography, mathematics, computer science and a subject freely translated by the word “science”. From the 7th grade, “science” is divided into biology, chemistry, and physics, which are familiar in Russia. "Politics", the equivalent of our natural sciences, is also taught.

Upon reaching the age of fourteen and moving to high school (complete secondary education), students make a choice between fundamental and vocational education. Accordingly, there is an in-depth study of the subjects of the chosen course.

India is rich in a large number and variety of trade schools. There, over the course of several years, in addition to secondary education, the student receives a profession that is in demand in the country.

In Indian schools, in addition to the native (regional) language, it is compulsory to study the “additional official” language - English. This is explained by the unusually large number of languages ​​of the multinational and numerous Indian people. English is the generally accepted language of the educational process; most textbooks are written in it. Studying a third language (German, French, Hindi or Sanskrit) is also mandatory.

Schooling is conducted six days a week. The number of lessons varies from six to eight per day. Most schools offer free meals for children. There is no grading system in Indian schools. But there are compulsory school-wide exams twice a year, and national exams in high school. All exams are written and taken in the form of tests. The vast majority of teachers in Indian schools are men.

School holidays in India fall in December and June. During the summer holidays, which last a whole month, children's camps are opened in schools. In addition to relaxation and entertainment with children, traditional creative educational activities are held there.

The Indian secondary education system includes both public and private schools.

Higher education in India is prestigious, diverse and popular among young people. There are more than two hundred universities in the country, most of which are focused on European education standards. The higher education system is presented in a three-stage form familiar to Europeans. Students, depending on the length of study and the chosen profession, receive bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees.

Among the most popular and prestigious universities are Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi, Rajasthan, each of these universities has 130-150 thousand students. In recent decades, due to the strong development of the Indian economy, the number of universities has increased engineering direction. The Indian Institute of Technology and the Institute of Management are among the most attractive and worthy here. Moreover, in the latter, 50% of students are foreign students. The share of humanities graduates in India is about 40%. Postgraduate education in India can also be free, like primary university education. For these purposes, institutes regularly provide grants, for which at a minimum you need a diploma and knowledge of the English language.

Obtaining higher education in Russia is becoming increasingly popular among Indian youth. This is explained by several factors:

High and ever-increasing level of higher education in Russia;

Compared to European prices, studying at Russian universities is much cheaper;

General low cost of living.

It is noteworthy that for admission to Russian universities on a commercial basis with training in English there is no need to pass entrance exams. In many universities in Russia, including Voronezh State medical University named after N.N. Burdenko, conduct Russian language classes (RFL) for Anglophones.

All documents of foreign students must be legalized: translated into Russian, certified by a notary.

The education system in India has undergone significant changes towards development and improvement over the past decades. The reason for this is the rapid growth of the country's economy and the increasing need for qualified scientific and working specialists. Much attention is paid to all levels of education - from preschool to higher education; obtaining a good education and a decent specialty among the country's population is one of the urgent life tasks.

Bibliography

1. Basham A.L. The miracle that was India. Per. from English, M., Main editorial office of oriental literature of the Nauka publishing house, 1977. 616 p. With ill. (Culture of the Peoples of the East).

2. India: Customs and etiquette / Venika Kingsland; lane from English E. Bushkovskaya. – M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. – 128s. (“A short guide”).