National policy of Education

                      National Policy of Education-1986

In the words of john Dewey, “ An aim is foreseen end that gives direction to an activity or motivates behavior.    All round development has been considered as the first and foremost aim of education. At the same time education ensures that there is a progressive development of innate abilities. Pestalozzi is of the view “Education is natural, harmonious and progressive development of man’s innate powers.” Education enables us to control, give the right direction and the final sublimation of instincts. It creates good citizens. It helps to prepare the kids for their future life. Education inculcates certain values and principles and also prepares a human being for social life. It civilizes the man .Education without an aim is quite meaningless. An aims is  a predetermined goal which inspires the willful activities of an individual, after careful thinking and proper planning till it is achieved.In fact, an aim is that predetermined goal which stimulates human activities to achieve it.

Criteria of Good Aims:

John Dewey suggested the following criteria for aims of education:

1.       Good aims are related to real situations of life. They grow out of  these situations  and they can be achieved

Under these situations .  2.Good aims are flexible. These  should be flexible enough to meet the demands of changing circumstances of  life.3.A good aim  represents a span of diverse activity.The real objective  in pursuing an end is not the course of activity itself which constitutes the core of education.

Importance of Educational Aims:

·         To direct efforts

·         To avoid wastage

·         To evaluate ourselves

·         To evaluate the existing conditions

·         Factors Determing Educational  Aims:

·         Political Ideologies

·         Social and Economic Problems

·         Prevailing Philosophy of Life

·         Higher Ideals of Life

·         Religious Ideologies

·         Cultural Ideologies

·         Psychological Ideology

·         Scientific Ideology

·         Human Nature

·         Exploration of knowledge

·         Different aims of Education

Aims of education in Ancient India

·         To infuse in the learners piety and religiousness

·         To form good character

·         To develop the personality fully

·         To inculcate the social and civic duties

·         To promotes social efficiency  and happiness

·         To preserve and propgate culture

Aims of Education In Medival India

·         Propagation of Islam

·         Spread of Education Among Muslims

·         Extension of Islamic Kingdom

·         Development of Morality

·         Building of Character

·         Achievement of  Material well being

·         Aims of Education during British

·         Consolidation of  British Empire

·         Recruitment of clerks

·         Spreading English Literature

·         Preparing  a class of Interpreters of English laws

Aims of Education In Modern Contexts:

·         Moral or Character Building

·         Culture as aim of education

·         Complete living as aim of education

·         Harmonious development aim

·         Individual development as aim of education

·         Social development as aim of education

·         Vocational aim of education

·         Liberal aim of education

Aims of Education according to Secondary Education Commission

·         Development of democratic Citizenship

·         Improvement of Vocational efficiency

·         Development of Personality

·         Development of qualities for leadership                                                                           

Aims of Education According to Indian Education Commission(Kothari Commission)

·         Increasing Productivity

·         Promoting social and national integration

·         Accelerating the process of  Modernisation

·         Cultivating social ,Moral and spiritual Values

Explanation of Some Educational aims;

  Individual Aims of Education

Development of an individual - physically, mentally and spritually is well known aim of education. Objectives related to this aim of individual development have been expressed in various ways :

- Developing physical and mental faculties

- Acquiring the capacities of understanding, appreciation and expression through word and act, are the fundamental aims of education

- Aim of education should be to make children self- confident and self dependent, and to make them strong physically and mentally

- Education is meant to develop every child's character, personality and culture and as much knowledge as the child can assimilate not merely memorize.

The best expression of complete development of an individual and the harmonious development of personality, however, is found in the following paragraph.The policy should be directed to the aim of enlightenment of head and heart; illumination of consciousness for all round development of individual personality. Education should enable a human being to attain the greatest possible harmony, internal and external, spiritual and material, for the fullest possible development of human potentialities and capacities.

 . Social Aims of Education

Social, aim of education in equally important because an individual lives in society and has his obligations towards his nation. There is a realisation that, "The present education system does riot yield required results mainly because it is divorced from the real social content and social goals".It has, therefore, been suggested that education should be able, to discharge its natural functions and must correspond to its structure, goals and content in the interest of national development and social progress. It has also been suggested in this connection that students from young age should be made aware of the social responsibility cast on them.Individual and social aims of education area not contrary to one another. In fact they are complementary to one another. The following view strikes a balance between individual and social aims of education.The purpose of education should be the development of the fullest possible capacities and potentialities physical and spiritual of a `total man'. It should make a man capable of earning his livelihood reasonably well to enjoy a happy and secure life while making effective contributions to the society and national effort of making India strong# advanced and prosperous.

  Modernisation

Modernisation of society in terms of scientific and technological advancement is a view which seems to be quite popular. It is though that education should enable us to move with times and attain excellence in, science and technology. To quote an expression of this kind.Scientific and technological advances are, gaining momentum and conscious efforts are made to incorporate them into the development sectors. This calls for modernisation of education in order to make. it in conformity with the modern times and to keep pace, with the advances in the world.

Modernisation, however, is not interpreted and equated with westernisation. In fact, lot of emphasis is given to `Indianness' while talking about modernisation. One of the suggestions explicitly points out that, hour education should integrate and unite the people of India, modernise society while preserving what is authentically Indian in our cultural and spiritual heritage".The following suggestion beautifully reconciles the twin objectives of modern technical sophistication and the ancient spirituality."New education policy of India should be built on the foundation of ancient spirituality and modern culture and technical sophistication. It should develop scientific temper and spirit of enquiry in the students".

Increasing  Productivity

Some documents have insisted on linking education with productivity and thus making individuals as productivie citizens to build a productive society. One of the suggestions, in a memorandum, for example, says. "It should bring about a social transformation, and enhance greater efficiency and productivity in all sectors : agri- cultural, industrial and service". It is in this context that Mahatma Gandhi's system of basic education is still considered as a basically sound system and a suggestion has been made that with necessary modification elements of basic education may form part of education not only at the primary stage but at all stages in our national system of education. These elements are:

1. Productive activity in education.

2. Correlation of the curriculum with productive activity and physical and social environment.

3. Intimate contact between the school and the local community.

 Community Participation

In a democracy education without community participation is barren. This aim of education is, therefore voiced by a number of groups and organisations. The change that is envisaged on this front is that of Integrating education with community in all respects. To quote a suggestion in this regard:

The education system in all its branches and sectors should get itself involved in activities related to problems of local Community life and shall thus endeavour through the desirable community participation community involvement in the educational field to bring all education of its rightful place in community life.

 . Cultivation  of Values

moral, cultural and spiritual values in education have been given immense importance in the Memoranda documents. One of the expressions emphatically point out that, "certain basic values as respect for others, responsibility, solidarity, creativity and integrity must be fostered in our children".It is interesting that a number of specific values have been suggested in the documents. The values which are considered important are mentioned below:

Emphasis should be given in cultivating good qualities like cooperation, good will, forgiveness, tolerance, honesty, patience etc. in order to encourage universal brother-hood and to prepare students worthy citizens of the country.Values of optimism and secularism, and service to the poor should be stressed on the young minds.

Aims of Education Recommended By National Policy of Education 1986

All Round Development:Science Education,Work Experience,vocationalization of secondary education,Technical & Management education,Mass Media and Educational technology,Games and Physical Education,Environmental Education,Value Education

Development of socialism,secularism and democracy

Development of Manpower

International Co-operation and Peaceful co-existence

Cultivating Moral and ethical values

Life long education

National System of Education:

·         Comman Educational structure

·         Based on a national curricular frame

·         International understanding

·         Providing  equal opportunities

·         Developing understanding of diversecultural and social system

·         Understanding universal character of  universities

·         Special emphasis on research and development

·         National Support for implementing educational programmes

Education for Equality

·         Women Education

·         Education of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes

·         Education for Minorities

·         Education for Handicapped

·         Promotion of adult education