A well educated mind vs a well formed mind: Dr. Shashi Tharoor at TEDxGateway 2013

Summary

The speaker discusses India's youthful demographic as a potential asset for economic transformation, emphasizing the importance of education in harnessing this potential. With a significant portion of the population under 25, India has the opportunity to lead in the global workforce. However, challenges remain in education quality, equity, and employability. The speaker calls for expansion, inclusion, excellence, and a focus on employability to prevent a demographic dividend from becoming a disaster, highlighting the need for innovative thinking and vocational training to equip India's youth for the future.

Takeaways

• 🌏 India has a significantly young population, with 65% under 35 and half under 25, which is a demographic advantage compared to an aging global population.
• 📚 The average age in India is projected to be 29 by 2020, which positions India to potentially play a role similar to what China did in the last generation, with a youthful and dynamic workforce.
• 📉 The demographic dividend in India could turn into a demographic disaster if the large young population is not educated and trained properly, leading to unemployment and social unrest.
• 🏫 Expansion in education has been significant, increasing literacy from 16% to 74% and growing the number of universities and colleges, but challenges in quality and employability remain.
• 🔄 Equity in education is a priority, addressing the historical exclusion of certain groups such as women, who had a literacy rate of only 8.9% at the time of India's independence.
• 🏛️ Excellence in education is a challenge, with institutions like the IITs being islands of quality in a sea of mediocrity, and the need for more focus on quality across all educational institutions.
• 💼 Employability is a concern, with employers expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of graduates, indicating a gap between education and industry needs.
• 📈 The government is taking steps to improve education, including the Right to Education Act and financial support for underfunded state universities.
• 🛠️ Vocational training is being emphasized to prepare a segment of the population for trades that are in demand and to address the cultural resistance to non-academic professions.
• 💡 Innovation and research are crucial for India's future, and there is a need to encourage out-of-the-box thinking and original creativity in the educational system.
• 👓 A personal anecdote about re-imagining everyday objects, like glasses, as a metaphor for the need to rethink and innovate in education to better prepare India's youth for the future.

Q & A

What is the demographic significance of India's population being predominantly under 35?

India's predominantly young population signifies a potential demographic dividend, offering a youthful, productive, and dynamic workforce that could transform the world, similar to the role China played in the last generation.

What is the average age of the Indian population, and how does it compare with other countries by 2020?

The average age in India is 28, which is significantly lower than other countries such as Japan (47), China (over 40), Europe (46), and the United States (40), indicating a younger population ready for work.

What is the projected number of Indians entering the workforce by 2020 according to the International Labor Organization?

The International Labor Organization projects that by 2020, India will have 160 million people in the age group of starting work, which is significantly higher than China's 94 million.

How does the speaker describe the potential consequences if India fails to educate and train its young population?

If India fails to educate and train its young population, the demographic dividend could turn into a demographic disaster, with unemployed and undereducated youth potentially becoming susceptible to negative influences such as Maoists.

What were the literacy rates in India at the time of independence and today?

At the time of independence in 1947, the literacy rate in India was 16%. Today, it has improved to 74%.

What is the current situation regarding gender equity in education in India?

While there has been progress, with the current female literacy rate at 66%, there is still a significant gender gap, as one out of every three Indian women is still illiterate.

What is the speaker's view on the quality of education in Indian higher education institutions?

The speaker believes that while there are institutions of great quality like the IITs and IIMs, the average Indian higher education institution is not of the desired quality, with many being described as 'islands of excellence floating on a sea of mediocrity'.

What is the speaker's perspective on the employability of Indian graduates?

The speaker indicates that employers and CEOs are generally not satisfied with the quality of graduates they receive, with a significant percentage of employers requiring additional re-education for their newly hired employees.

What is the Right to Education Act's impact on children's education in India?

The Right to Education Act has made education a state responsibility, ensuring that if children are out of school, it is considered the state's fault rather than the parents', reflecting a commitment to getting all children an education.

What is the current gross enrollment ratio at the primary school level in India, and what does it signify?

The current gross enrollment ratio at the primary school level in India is 116%, which means more children are enrolled than initially estimated for that age group, indicating some older children are also joining the system.

What is the speaker's suggestion for improving research and innovation in India?

The speaker suggests that India needs to foster new ways of thinking, encouraging out-of-the-box ideas and original thinking in the classroom, to improve research and innovation, and to better utilize the country's intellectual potential.