The interesting story of our educational system | Adhitya Iyer | TEDxCRCE

Summary

The speaker humorously delves into India's deep-rooted obsession with engineering, tracing its origins to British colonial influence and the English language's role in shaping educational priorities. Highlighting the success of Indian engineers in the US, he also addresses the intense pressure and tragic outcomes faced by students in India, critiquing the country's educational system for its factory-like approach and urging a rethink to foster creativity and diverse career paths.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The speaker humorously contrasts his presence at the event with that of high-profile figures from previous years, setting a light-hearted tone for his talk on India's educational system.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The game of identifying common traits among Indian celebrities reveals that many are engineers by education, highlighting the prevalence of engineering in Indian society.
• 🏆 The speaker points out India's lack of Nobel laureates and Olympic medals compared to the number of engineers produced, emphasizing the country's focus on engineering education.
• 🤔 The speaker's personal journey from being an engineer to a curious researcher on the topic of India's engineering obsession is shared, adding a personal touch to the narrative.
• 🇬🇧 The influence of English education in India is traced back to Thomas Babington Macaulay, whose policies led to the adoption of English as a medium of instruction.
• 💼 The speaker discusses the challenges faced by Indian engineers, including poor communication skills due to the emphasis on rote learning and English as a second language.
• 🚀 The impact of the Soviet Union's Sputnik launch on U.S. immigration policy is highlighted, showing how it opened doors for Indian engineers to excel in America.
• 🌏 The success of Indian engineers in the U.S. tech industry is attributed to historical events and the ease of communication due to English proficiency.
• 🏫 The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are presented as prestigious institutions that are highly valued both in India and abroad for their rigorous education.
• 📚 The speaker's research into the obsession with engineering in India uncovers various societal and historical factors that have contributed to this phenomenon.
• 🔄 The tragic side of the engineering obsession is touched upon, with stories of students under immense pressure, sometimes leading to suicide, and the need for a change in the educational system.

Q & A

Who were the speakers at the event last year and what was the difference with this year's speaker?

Last year's speakers included the CEO of JPMorgan and the police commissioner, while this year the speaker was the storyteller himself, who humorously refers to himself as a 'massive goofball' compared to the previous high-profile figures.

What is the common factor among the Indian celebrities mentioned in the script?

The common factor among the Indian celebrities mentioned is that they are all engineers by education.

How many Nobel laureates in science has India produced since its independence in 1947?

Since its independence in 1947, India has produced zero Nobel laureates in science.

What is the comparison made between the number of Olympic medals won by the U.S. and China?

The comparison is that the U.S. has won over 100 plus 26 Olympic medals, while China produced 100 medals in the 2008 games alone.

What does the speaker claim India has produced more of than the U.S. and China combined?

India has produced more engineers than the U.S. and China combined.

What were the two 'mistakes' the speaker made in school according to the script?

The speaker's two 'mistakes' in school were being good at studies and particularly good at math, which led to him getting into engineering.

What significant event in history is tied to the success of Indian engineers in the U.S. tech industry?

The significant event is the launch of the Sputnik satellite by the Soviets on October 4, 1957, which led to the U.S. changing its immigration policy to invite the best scientists, doctors, and engineers from across the globe.

What is the speaker's view on the role of English in the life of India's engineers?

The speaker believes that English education played a crucial role in the life of India's engineers, as it made them more employable in the international market and facilitated their success in the IT revolution.

What is the speaker's opinion about the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)?

The speaker views the IITs as meritorious institutions that offer quality education and are a pathway for social upliftment, but also as a source of obsession in Indian society.

What is the tragic aspect of the script related to the pursuit of engineering?

The tragic aspect is the high youth suicide rate in India, with 20 kids killing themselves every day mostly due to academic pressure, and the societal expectation to become an engineer.

What is the speaker's final conclusion about the Indian education system?

The speaker concludes that the Indian education system, which is modeled after the factory system, needs to be fixed to prevent the loss of creativity and individuality among students, and to avoid the tragic outcomes associated with the obsession with engineering.