- After gaining independence, India's education system began changing to focus on educating the masses and instilling patriotism. [1] - The first two decades saw the establishment of education commissions to guide policy evolution and development. Key milestones included making elementary education free and compulsory up to age 14. [2] - Since then, India has focused on improving literacy, expanding access to education at all levels, and developing vocational and technical education to meet the needs of an independent nation. National policies and initiatives like the Kothari Commission and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan have guided education reforms. [3]

1. Education in the Post Independent Period
Dr.M.Deivam
Assistant Professor
Department of Education
The Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University)
Gandhigram, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu

2. Education in the Post Independent Period
• With the attainment of Independence the character
and objectives of Indian education started
changing.
• During the British period education had not
reached the masses.
• In the villages and even in towns other than the
metropolitan cities, schools were few and far –
between. Out of hundred in 1947, only 15 could
read or write.

3. Cont.,
• A national education that would equip the youth
to do productive work and make them patriotic
citizens was quite an ideal objective of the
nationalist movement.
• Anyhow the Nehru government did not adopt
any policy document on education. A national
Policy Education was yet in its evolution in the
Nehru era.

4. Cont.,
• The Educational Commissions appointed by the
Nehru government in 1948 and 1952 anyhow
contributed to that evolution as well as the general
development of education in the first two decades
of Independence.
• The first milestone in the development of education
in independent India was the enactment of Indian
constitution which defined a number of matters
concerning education.

5. Cont.,
• The provision for free and compulsory education
for all children until they complete the age of
fourteen, has been made directive principles of
state policy.
• Again the state shall promote with special care the
educational and economic interests of the weaker
sections of the people, and in particular of the
scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, and shall
protect them from social injustice and all forms of
exploitation.

6. Cont.,
• In part of the constitution, Hindi has been
declared as the official language of the
union. Hence progressive use of Hindi
language for the official purposes of the
union, and the regional languages for the
internal administration in each state has
been recommended.

7. Cont.,
• After the Sargent Commission, there were no
major commissions or reports in the British
period.
• The Central Advisory Board of Education
(CABE) decided to set up two Commissions
one to deal with university education and the
other to deal with secondary education

8. Cont.,
• Free and compulsory education up to the age of 14
was being debated in the Constituent Assembly,
which ultimately found expression in the Directive
Principles of state policy.
• The scheme that seems to have been worked out
was that universal elementary education would be
achieved by I960, and necessary changes in the
secondary as well as higher education would have
to be made in accordance with the needs of an
independent India.

9. Cont.,
• The Govt. implemented the recommendations of
Kothari Commission under ‘National Policy on
Education’ in 1968.
• The main recommendations were universal primary
education. Introduction of new pattern of
education, three language formula, introduction of
regional language in higher education, development
of agricultural and industrial education and adult
education.

10. Cont.,
• National Council of Educational Research and
Training (NCERT) at National level and State
Council of Educational Research and Training
(SCERT) at State level were established to
maintain the standard of education.
University Grants Commission (UGC) was
instituted to determine the standard of higher
education.

11. Growth of Educational Institute in India

12. Development of Education in India after
Independence

13. • Development of Technical Education IIT, NIT and
IIM
• There were only 28 medical colleges in the country
in 1950-51. There were 165 medical and 40 dental
colleges in the country in 1998-99.
• Agricultural Universities have been started in almost
all States to improve production and productivity
of agriculture. These universities impart education
and research in agriculture, horticulture, animal
husbandry and veterinary sciences etc.

14. Cont.,
• In India, literary among women was quite low. It
was 52% according to 2001 census. While the
literacy among men was 75.8%. Women education
was given top priority in National Policy on
Education. Many State Governments have
exempted the tuition fee of girl’s up to university
level. Separate schools and colleges have been
established to raise level of literacy among women.

15. Cont.,
• National Policy of Education, 1986, aims at
vocationalisation of secondary education.
Central Govt. has been giving grants to State
Governments to implement the programme
since 1988. Agriculture, Pisciculture, diary,
poultry, typing, electronics, mechanical and
carpentry etc. had been included in higher
secondary curriculum.

16. Cont.,
• In 1951, there were 27 universities. Their number
increased to 254 in 2001. In Orissa state, there was
only one university in 1951. Now there are 9
universities.
• The Central Govt. is providing assistance to State
Govt. and voluntary organisation to implement the
scheme. Non-formal education centres have been
set up in remote rural areas, hilly and tribal areas
and in slums. These impart education to children of
6-14 age group.

17. Cont.,
• After the adoption of National Policy of Education
1968, regional language became the medium of
instruction in higher education. Syllabus on science
and technology, dictionaries, books, and Question
Papers are translated into regional languages.
• The National Adult Education Programme was
started in 1978. The programme is considered as a
part of primary education. National Literary Mission
was also started in 1988 to eradicate adult illiteracy
particularly in rural areas.

18. Cont.,
• Central Govt. started a scheme for the
improvement of science education in schools in
1988. Financial assistance is given to provide
science kits, up gradation of science laboratories,
development of teaching material, and training of
science and mathematics teachers.
• A Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET)
was set up in NCERT to purchase equipment for
State Institutes of Educational Technology.
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has been launched.

19. Some achievements in post-independence
period

20. 1. It has determined to eliminate poverty, and to
ensure a reasonable standard of living for the
masses.
2. It has made efforts towards modernization of
agriculture and rapid development of industry.
3. Digital Learning – SWAYAM, SWAYAM Prabha, e
PG Pathshala etc.

21. Cont.,
4. It has adopted modern science and technology and
has tried to harmonize’ it with ancient Indian
educational traditional values.
5. It has accepted socialistic pattern of society.
6. 7. In respect of universalizing education, it has
proclaimed equality of opportunity for all.

22. Education Commission in the Post
Independence Period

29. Thank you