essay on ancient education and modern education

Best Universities in Luxembourg

Streamlining Student Management: The Power of Automated Systems

All You Need to Know about Scholarship to Study Abroad

International School Fees: Unveiling the True Value

Top 10 SEO company in Bangalore Specialized in SEO Educational Institute .

• Career & Jobs
• Career Guidance
• Study Abroad
• Personality Development

Difference Between Ancient Education and Modern Education System

• Difference between Ancient Education and Modern Education System
• Ancient education vs modern education
• Traditional education vs modern education
• The ancient and modern education system in India

It all started with that Stone Age fellow who realized that he and his contemporaries could understand each other’s cries and grunts.

Then came another fellow who invented tools and soon they all had improved fashion wear and the basic makings of a language. And what do you do when you have a language? You pass it on.

Ancient education and modern education are very different but also have some similarities like using a language or a particular place to study.

Yes, we romanticize ancients with their pyramids, Parthenon and Stonehenge wondering what hidden knowledge they bore. But frankly, those ain’t cost-effective structures to be built in the 21st century.

The chief Difference between Ancient Education and Modern Education systems would be that in the modern education system, it is free and compulsory.

You are going to school whether you like it or not. Joking aside, the ancient education system was more on trying to understand the world philosophically than scientifically. In the modern education system, you’ve got to prove what you say.

Ancient Education vs Modern Education

If we were to go Ancient education vs modern education, both have their benefits well suited for their times. The latter seems more valuable and sane than the prior.

However, they do have their differences mostly sticking to the facts of great technological differences, world view, and the fantastic size of the population. Besides we cannot forget religious and societal differences.

To better understand the differences between ancient education and modern education systems, we will have to compare them with certain facets. It will be done by comparing ancient Greeks and Romans with the modern education system.

Students in The Ancient Education System

Although there is no absolute information, it is safer to assume that the city populace had a higher literacy rate. There existed group schools which were mostly for boys.

A few girls did learn to read but at home. They never went to school. The possibility of homeschooling for girls entirely depended on their parent’s choice.

Students in The Modern Education System

Besides, it is the parent’s civic duty to send their children to school failing which can attract legal prosecution in some countries.

Educators in The Ancient Education System

Teachers in ancient Greece suffered from the same problem that teachers suffer in the modern world, low wages.

Meanwhile, teachers were literates but not all were scholars. Education was mostly about reading and writing for some.

Given the legend of Greek achievements in philosophy and other areas, Romans often employed Greeks as schoolteachers.

Some of these teachers were from the enslaved population. Romans believed that Greeks had a scholarly ability and hence Greek literature was part of the roman curriculum.

Educators in The Modern Education System

Teachers in modern schools and the education system are required to have at least 16 or more years of formal education. They have to be certified and have to bear degrees that are particularly designed for the carrier.

Subjects Studied in The Ancient Education System

Ancient Greeks fancied oratory, reading and writing, history, poetry, music , athletics, and arithmetic. Similarly, Romans incorporated the same system with an addition of Latin. Also, rhetoric was given a greater preference.

Subjects Studied in The Modern Education System

There is no lack of a variety of subjects available for a learner to learn in the modern education system. There are basic subjects all must learn and then there are specializations by choice.

The basic subjects include reading, writing, languages, science, social science, math, physical education, sports, music, art, and applied sciences.

Those looking for specialization can pick anything from economics, fine arts to medicine and quantum mechanics.

School in The Ancient Education System

An individual would have a bunch of small buildings where he did hire teachers to take classes or a self-employed teacher would take classes at his house or out near a tree or a brook.

Romans kind of followed what Greeks did and their school year began in March.

School in The Modern Education System

Huge buildings and campuses housing hundreds if not thousands of students. Separate spaces for learning, entertainment, food preparation, residence, and infirmary.

Total Years of Schooling in The Ancient Education System

There wasn’t exactly a proper period of education and largely depended on the students and their parents.

Meanwhile, in the Roman Empire, education started from the age of seven and lasted till twelve. Later, some students went to high schools.

Total Years of Schooling in The Modern Education System

Students begin their education from the age of 4 and continue till the age of 18 assuming, they cleared all the exams every year. Later, they can study another 3 to 7 years to complete higher education.

Careers Requiring Education in The Ancient Education System

Anyone trying to become a politician had to have a good public speaking ability. Therefore training in rhetoric was essential.

Meanwhile, businesses were conducted orally than in writing. Similarly, politicians and those of the priestly class were required to have literacy and rhetoric. Education wasn’t mandatory for businessmen.

Careers Requiring Education in The Modern Education System

No matter which profession, basic education is almost always required. Besides, there aren’t many jobs available for the uneducated.

In the ancient education system, literacy was not universal. It was neither a duty nor a right.

Generally, rich folk’s children were taught to read while the education of the children in the labour class was limited to their parent’s trade.

However, the modern education system is free and compulsory for all. Governments spend millions of dollars to get their entire population educated, at least with a basic level of education. Achieving 100% literacy is more of a civic goal .

People in the ancient world valued education but not knowing to read or write was not considered an embarrassment.

One could seek and find assistance for reading or writing something. Besides, a man’s word in that era did bear his respect and value.

Coming to the modern world, education is considered valuable and prestigious. Parents rich or poor, want their children to get educated to the highest level possible.

A bad effect of this is that some students who are extremely good or pretty bad at studies usually get shamed.

Traditional Education vs Modern Education

The traditional education system and modern education system are unique and very different from each other.

Considering Traditional education vs modern education, it can be observed that the prior deals with traditions passed from one generation to the other.

The latter, however, deals with a more scientific approach that is, it teaches students, skills to survive in the present world of science and technology.

In traditional education, a teacher passes on values , skills, manners, and social practices from their generation to the next generation. The aim is to ensure the survival of the future generation.

Education mostly revolves around traditions and customs. It is usually done through oral recitation and involves very little written or practical work .

The students will listen to the recitation and by-heart it. They might have to pass through a not-so-formal oral exam.

Traditional education has got everything to do with religion, tradition, and customs. It does not give any importance to science and technology.

Modern education is in an entirely other direction. It is a scientific method and is the form of education imparted in schools today.

It teaches a student the basic skills required to survive in the modern world of science and technology. This system involves listening, writing, speaking, imagining, visualizing, and problem-solving skills .

Students are expected to pass through very formal tests and prove that they have learnt their lessons well.

In other words, the modern education system has evolved from the traditional oral education system.

The latter then improved to the traditional system of writing on blackboards and books. This in turn has gone modern with online education on laptops and tablets.

You May Also Like A Detailed Guide About Reflective Teaching Practice

The Ancient and Modern Education System in India

India’s ancient education system has attracted scholars from throughout the world. Besides, Nalanda University in India is considered to be the first residential university in the world.

The ancient and modern education system in India is two different faces of the education system in India.

However, they do have a common history connecting them. It is worth noting that the education system in India has always been an attraction worldwide, be it in ancient or modern times.

The ancient education system in India began with Rigveda, which dealt with the growth and taking care of the inner and other self of an individual.

It focused on moral , physical, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of life. It was later followed by other forms of Vedas and Upanishads.

Education was imparted at home, in temples, gurukuls , or pathshalas. Education could be given in residential ashrams or for some hours daily.

Accounts of Chinese scholars describe that kings and society took great interest in promoting education.

This led to the creation of many famous educational centres like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramshila, Odantapuri, and others.

The syllabus as well as the selection of students was completely in the hands of the teacher.

The course concluded when the teacher was satisfied with the student’s performance. The method of teaching was through debate and discussion .

It may be noted that education was considered sacred and was free of charge. However, any donations for education were considered to be of the highest form.

The ancient education system in India was not centralized and focused on the holistic development of the students through rich cultural traditions.

The modern education system was introduced into India by the British which is still followed in the country. This system changed the age-old archaic systems with the English way.

Past the independence of India, the government of India understood the great need and value of education and put in great effort to get people into schools and educate them.

The far-sight of the visionary leader Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the much-needed educational reforms in the country. Presently, the country has world-renowned universities attracting students from all over the world.

The modern education system in India follows a pyramidal structure starting with the Pre-primary level, Primary (elementary) level, Secondary level, and higher education.

Through the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002, elementary education has been made a fundamental right.

Successive Union and state governments have spent millions of rupees to spread literacy in the country with Kerala becoming the state with the highest literacy rate in India.

The Indian modern education system aims to provide free and compulsory elementary education to all irrespective of their caste or creed.

To ensure there is no disparity in access to education, the government has also provided reservations for the SC, ST, OBS, and other minorities in the society.

There are differences between Ancient Education and Modern Education systems but where we have reached now, it all thanks to someone in history noticing the need and value of education.

It is worth mentioning that though we have gone modern, we are now incorporating ancient methods into the modern system to further optimize it.

You May Also Like Why Education Is Important?

You Might Also Like

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Weekly Newsletter

subscribe to our latest blog and weekly newsletter

Popular News

Benefits of Doing a PhD

- Advertisement -

• Certifications

Top Categories

Subscribe us, for quick admission assistance.

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Essay on Ancient Education System

Students are often asked to write an essay on Ancient Education System in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Ancient Education System

Introduction.

The Ancient Education System is an important part of human history. It laid the foundation for modern education and has influenced how we learn today.

Ancient India

In Ancient India, education was based on the guru-shishya tradition. Students lived with their teachers in ashrams, learning subjects like philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy.

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece is known for its education system. Schools taught subjects like rhetoric, philosophy, and physical education. Famous philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were teachers.

Ancient China

In Ancient China, education was highly valued. It focused on respect for elders, proper behavior, literature, and philosophy.

The Ancient Education System has shaped our modern education. It has given us a deep understanding of various subjects and the importance of learning.

250 Words Essay on Ancient Education System

Education, the cornerstone of civilization, has evolved significantly over millennia. The ancient education system, though rudimentary, laid the foundation for modern pedagogical approaches.

Characteristics of Ancient Education

The ancient education system was profoundly influenced by the prevailing cultural, social, and religious norms. It was primarily oral, with a focus on memorization. The curriculum included subjects like philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and literature.

Role of Teachers

Teachers, often philosophers or scholars, played a pivotal role. They were revered figures, imparting not just academic knowledge but also ethical and moral values. The Guru-Shishya (teacher-student) tradition in ancient India exemplifies this relationship.

Education in Ancient Civilizations

In ancient Egypt, education was a privilege of the elite, aimed at preparing future administrators. Conversely, ancient Greece democratized education, encouraging critical thinking and debate. The Socratic method emerged from this era.

Impact on Modern Education

Today’s education system owes much to its ancient counterpart. The emphasis on holistic education, the importance of teachers, and the value of critical thinking are all echoes of the past.

The ancient education system, despite its limitations, was a significant precursor to modern educational practices. Understanding its nuances helps us appreciate the progress we’ve made and the challenges that remain.

500 Words Essay on Ancient Education System

Introduction to ancient education systems.

Education has been a fundamental pillar of human civilization since its inception. Ancient education systems, varying widely across different cultures and civilizations, laid the groundwork for modern pedagogical practices.

The Greek Education System

The Greek education system, one of the earliest recorded, was primarily focused on imparting knowledge about art, philosophy, and public speaking. The Socratic method, a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue, is a testament to the Greeks’ emphasis on critical thinking and inquiry.

Roman Education System

The Romans, influenced by the Greeks, incorporated a structured education system. However, they added a practical dimension, focusing on law, politics, and military tactics. Roman education was designed to cultivate a citizenry capable of maintaining the vast Roman Empire.

Indian Gurukul System

India’s ancient Gurukul system was a residential schooling system where students lived with their guru (teacher). It was a holistic approach, focusing on physical, spiritual, and intellectual growth. The curriculum included philosophy, warfare, astrology, politics, and Ayurveda, reflecting a comprehensive education system.

Chinese Imperial Examinations

In ancient China, the Imperial examination system was a major pathway for social mobility. It was a rigorous process that selected candidates for the state bureaucracy based on their knowledge of Confucian texts, making education accessible to all social classes.

Ancient Egyptian Education

Ancient Egyptian education was closely tied to their religious beliefs and heavily centered around the practical skills necessary for surviving in the Nile Valley. It included subjects like writing, mathematics, and engineering, demonstrating a focus on practical knowledge.

Implications of Ancient Education Systems

These ancient education systems have significantly influenced modern education. For instance, the Socratic method is still employed in classrooms to promote critical thinking. The Gurukul system’s holistic approach is mirrored in contemporary emphasis on all-round development.

While our current education system has evolved significantly, understanding ancient education systems provides valuable insights into the fundamental purpose of education: to foster individual growth and build a thriving society. The ancient systems, with their focus on holistic development, critical thinking, and practical knowledge, offer lessons that remain relevant in today’s education landscape.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Benefits of Online Education
• Essay on Role of Computer in Education
• Essay on My Education

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Top Colleges
• Top Courses
• Entrance Exams
• Admission 2024
• Study Abroad
• Study in Canada
• Study in UK
• Study in USA
• Study in Australia
• Study in Germany
• IELTS Material
• Scholarships
• Sarkari Exam
• Visual Stories
• College Compare
• Write a review
• Login/ Register
• Login / Register

Ancient Education vs Modern Education - Which is Better?

Princi Rai ,

Mar 4, 2024

Share it on:

Ancient education vs modern education has different parameters; Gurukul were the teaching institutes at the time of the ancient education system. Now, formal bodies like institute colleges are there for teaching.

Ancient education vs modern education can be easily understood via different perspectives; ancient education focused on the philosophical world rather than the scientific world, and in modern education, science and experiment are prioritised.

Modern education is the recent form of education which primarily focuses on developing critical thinking ability, value education, and analytical skills along with decision-making ability.

Table of Contents

Ancient Education vs Modern Education: Overview

What is ancient education, what is modern education, difference between ancient education and modern education systems, school, students and teachers in the ancient education system, school, students and teachers in the modern education system, which is better: ancient education or modern education.

The overview of ancient education vs modern education is tabulated below, considering all the important parameters like location, teaching methods, prime focus, and information sources used for education.

General education or traditional education are other names for ancient education. The transmission of the morals, values, and social skills necessary for the next generation to survive is a primary driving force behind traditional education. 

The learner gains knowledge of the traditions and customs of the community in which they reside through traditional education. Students receive this kind of instruction primarily through oral repetition.

Also Check : Buddhist Education System in India: Meaning, Objectives, Subjects

Modern education is synonymous with most reason education systems, which comprises classrooms and education institutes, is known as modern education. Modern education emphasises the excellent overall development of the student. 

It provides multiple streams according to the interests and career prospects of students, like the science stream, commerce stream, and humanity stream. 

Modern education also emphasises developing critical thinking ability and life skills value education and is also delivered in both online and offline modes. 

The sources for modern education are numerous mobile phone applications, audio and video for maths like YouTube, podcasts and ebooks.

Also Read: Modern Education System: Purpose, Benefits, Challenges

The ancient education vs modern education system are distinct and opposed, so a few of the most basic differences are listed below:

• Approach to Education: When traditional education is compared to modern education, it is very clear that in traditional education, the customs and rituals are passed down through generations. Still, in modern education, the scientific approach, the technologies, and the techniques are thriving in the world of science and technology.
• Methods of Teaching: In traditional education, a teacher instructs the following generation in social norms, skills, values, and manners. Ensuring the survival of the next generation is the goal. The majority of education is centred on conventions and traditions. Unlike, modern education, where there is extensive coursework and written assignments included, there is relatively little written or practical work involved in ancient education, and it is often completed by oral recitation.
• Subjects & Syllabus: Religion, rituals, and tradition are all integral parts of traditional schooling. It does not value science or technology at all. The trend of modern schooling is completely different. It is a scientific approach and the kind of instruction taught in schools these days.
• Teachers: In ancient education system, teachings were passed on by the religious leaders or scholars. Whereas, in today's modern education system, students are taught by trained educators and professors.

Also Read: Guide to 12 Types of Modern Teaching Methods    

The basic information about the schooling, students and teachers in the ancient education system is mentioned below:

• School in the Ancient Education System

Schools and the ancient education system were very informal places that could be the house of the religious scholar, who is the Guru, or a park under a tree, and which lakh the facilities that are provided today in the modern education system.

• Students in the Ancient Education System

Students in the ancient education system were expected to leave their homes and recite in gurukuls. In some places, the girls refused to receive home instructions or homeschooling, and they were not encouraged to attend school like boys and rested solely with their parents.

• Educators in the Ancient Education System

Educators in the ancient education system were basically religious scholars and experts who primarily focused on narrating the skills reading the skills. The educators in the ancient system were known as gurus.School, Students and Teachers in the Modern Education System.

Also Check : What is Quality Education?

The basic information about the schooling, students and teachers and teaching methodologies of the modern education system is mentioned below:

• School in the Modern Education System

School infrastructure in the modern education system comprises large buildings and campuses spread over large acres of areas, hostels, medication facilities, transportation halls, and other essential infrastructure.

• Students in the Modern Education System

In the modern education system, all the students, apart from their residence, are required to attend school. It is also a compulsory civic obligation for parents to send their children to school. The government also provides initiatives like free basic education to increase the school enrollment of students.

• Educators in the Modern Education System

In the education system, there is a criterion fixed for educators that they must hold specific degrees and experience to teach students in class. Educators are known as mentors, teachers, and professors.

Also Read: Importance of Adult Education

While there are distinctions between the ancient education vs modern education system, it is important to note that, despite our modern advancements, we are currently enhancing the efficiency of the current system by integrating antiquated techniques.

• Each form of education has a specific role and significance. It is impossible to categorise schooling as excellent or bad.
• Both traditional and modern education had their merits in their respective eras. In actuality, it varies per individual. 
• Depending on what the individual wishes to learn, yes. A person is better off receiving a traditional education if he wishes to learn about his culture and religion.

Also Check : Different Types Of Educational Technology for Highly-Engaged Classroom

POST YOUR COMMENT

Related articles.

IIT Bombay Seat Matrix 2024 | IITB Seat Allotment

CCSU Merit List 2024: Steps, Documents, Important Links

UP Board Scrutiny Result 2024: Dates, Steps to Download Scorecard

CGBSE 11th Syllabus 2024 for All Subjects | Download PDF

UGC NET Date Sheet 2024 (June 10-21): Complete Schedule

RDVV Revaluation Result 2024: Direct Links, Steps to Check

CUET Admission Process 2024: Application Correction Ends (Apr 8), Dates, Registration, Eligibil...

Get Free Scholarship worth 25000 INR

• Study Abroad

Ancient vs Modern education

Modern india has produced a mass level of intellectuals, scientists, doctors, bureaucrats and experts of various diverse fields they pursue in life. however the sad part is that any of those has hardly given credit to the indian education system for their success.

 It is satirically painful that most of the eminent jewels of the nation had to ignore or go against the education system in order to grow or reach the peaks of mountains.

The notable fact is that things were not always like this and we have somewhat contaminated the society after the medieval and colonial era with certain elements that are holding back our growth.

The ancient education system was entirely different from the latter in its ideals, approach, and its mechanism. The distorted version today can be differentiated from the sorted one earlier can be better analyzed by the following aspects of education:

Ethical education:

The Brahmanical system of education is mainly a domestic system of education. A student undergoes very rigid physical, mental and moral discipline.

It aims to convert the student into a ‘full human being’ and train him efficiently to shoulder the responsibilities of society. Buddhist education concentrates, more, on spiritual training.

It is mainly a monastic system of education. But, both the systems molded the moral and spiritual personality of the students not only by teaching moral ethics but also trains them to practice those ethics. After performing the Vidyarambha ceremony and the Prabrajya

ceremony in the Vedic and Buddhist system respectively, the student would go to live with the teacher till his formal education completed. This inculcated the disciplines and the ethics towards life which is a basic ingredient in a student’s life.

The focus on moral values and ethical training in the modern age is just left to be a textual matter in our books while parroting these is considered to be a skill in a child’s life. The burden of formal education should be reduced to some practical life values to be taught at the initial stages of a student.

Curriculum ahead:

Both Vedic and Buddhist systems of education had different subjects of study. Certain other subjects common to both the systems were arithmetic, military science, law, performing arts, ethics, and art and architecture. In order to earn a livelihood, men needed to know an art form.

As per the ancient Indian education system, there were about 64 art forms, including dance, music, jewel making, sculpture, agriculture, and medical sciences. To acquire vocational training in a particular art form, men were required to work as trainees under a master’s to gain expertise.

They were taught without any cost, and food and boarding were also taken care of by the master. 

Such diversity of subjects is rather missing in the current education system and if there exists,  there comes the prejudiced outlook for certain subjects and therefore discouraged to learn.

Often that is the case for some vocational courses. The lack of options in the curriculum for a student compels him/her to study for survival in society rather than enhancing as a human.

Autonomy of institutions:

The institutions of education enjoyed complete autonomy from the state with no interference. The gurukuls were inhabited by highly revered teachers with saintly knowledge along with expertise in the subjects of worldly affairs. However, At that time, knowledge was considered sacred and no fee was charged.

Contributions towards education were considered the highest form of donation. All members of the society contributed in some form or the other. Financial support came from rich merchants, wealthy parents, and society. Besides gifts of buildings, the universities received gifts of land.

This form of free education was also prevalent in other ancient universities like Valabhi, Vikramshila, and Jagaddala.

The education of the modern age influenced by western ideals is characterized by the state’s interference in schooling along with the prevailing chaos of capitalist institutions.

The exorbitant fees and social taboos existing in rural areas are the key determinants for the inadequate education acquired by a student.

Aim of education:

The main objective of education was to equip the students with a good quality of education. The education mostly focused on the enrichment of culture, character, and personality, development, and cultivation of noble ideals.

The objective was to gain the mental, physical, and intellectual personality of students, to make the students future-ready and survive in any situation

whereas today the aim of education is entirely hijacked by the western powers and we are yet to be freed from neo-colonization.

The ideals and goals are easily swayed by the materialistic longings and the desire to be creative and contribute to society is somewhere lost with the lost spirit of Indian culture befittingly suited to this environment.

Also Read :

10 teachers injured and over a hundred detained outside Punjab CM’s residence

15 brilliant things to do after college, 10 books everyone should read before college.

A daily dose of news, views, opinions, and actionable information from the global education sector. Our newsletter is available for a limited audience. If you are interested to write or contribute to this portal then please get in touch.

Recent News

Crystal Ball: Learning Analytics and Predictive Modeling for Student Success

College Students: Beware of the Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety

Site navigation.

• Advertisement
• Privacy & Policy
• Other Links

© 2020 TED - A Medianiti Venture .

• The Education Daily
• Real Estate

• Education & Reference

Modern Education Versus Ancient Education

When I compare ancient education with modern education I wonder looking at the main difference that ancient education was full of aims and objects but modern education is aimless education without aims and objects. In ancient education religion was prominent due to which the ancient men have conquered all the forces of nature as we see the ancient men built Egyptian Pyramids and modern educated men and women have filed to follow their building techniques how they carried so much huge stones without heavy machineries.

Venice stands on the seven pillars in the sea and the whole city is built on sea water, full of canals and bridges and no damage we see to the houses and city still as we see the Taj Mahal, still stands with its original grandeur  more than five hundred years have past no damage still to its beauty and structure and it is a challenge for the new generation education.

According to the scholar gipsy who got admission in the Oxford University but after sometime he said adieu to the campus saying this that modern education is aimless and he is going to join a gypsy tribe just to learn the art of controlling human mind and when he will be expert he will come back to teach this art to University fellows.

Scholar Gipsy is one of the most famous poems of Mathew Arnold. It thoroughly deals with a gipsy who left Oxford University just to seek real truth and wisdom. For this purpose he joined a gipsy tribe to learn the art of controlling human minds. It is a Victorian poem and the Victorian period was full of all types of unrest: social, political, industrial and religious.

In the present poem, the poet shows industrial effects on men’s life through a scholar gipsy who saw off studies on the ground of penury. To earn his livelihood he joined a company of vagabond gypsies and followed their profession to earn his bread and butter.

He used to say his friends when he would learn fully the art of gipsy then he would come to teach his people the art of gipsy how much truth lies in it. The poet exclaimed in the voice of gipsy:

“And I, he said, the secret of their art

When fully learned, will to the world impart?”

By chance he met his university friends they asked at once recognizing him the cause of roaming in the ragged clothes. Listening to it he invited them in a private room to show them some gipsy tricks. They wondered but he said them he did it just with the help of imagination.

At this time, he is not expert in this field whenever he would be able to learn this art fully then he will come back to cities to teach the Gypsy’s real truth. As the text shows his words:

“This said, he left them and returned no more

But rumors hung about the country side

The lost scholar gipsy long was seen to stray,”

Some people say that he is seen on the river sitting on a bench in a pensive mood, sometimes near a hill and always tries to avoid human sight and company wearing antique clothes holding in his hands some bunches of flowers. As we read:

“Seen by rare glimpses, pensive and tongued tied

In hat of antique shape, and clock of grey

The same gipsy wore,”

To sum up, it is a beautiful poem full of criticism on the modern world but with a great message for the coming generation, the scholar gipsy was an armful man, fond of truth and wisdom when he failed in getting truth and wisdom in the modern universities and schools he joined a gipsy tribes for this purpose.

On the other hand, it is a bitter satire on our age that is full of skepticism and truth and wisdom both are missing in our lives. We are leading life under emotions neglecting wisdom. People have become selfish and the whole world is the abattoir of men. In such condition, the scholar gipsy is presented by Arnold a model of truth and aim, wisdom and confidence.

• Your Name: *
• Your Email: *

Recent Posts

• Electronics

Heart Attack Causes and its Solution

What is the Main Cause of a Heart Attack? What is its Solution? A heart attack is the blockage of… Read More

• Bus. Economic & Analysis

Understanding the Debt Ceiling: Its Impact, Importance, and Implications

In the vast economic arena, one term that often takes center stage, inciting extensive debates and discussions, is the "debt… Read More

De-Dollarization: The New World Order of Currency and Its Global Impact

De-Dollarization: The Changing Face of Global Finance The financial landscape is in a state of flux, with an intriguing economic… Read More

Unstoppable Bayern Munich: The Story Behind Their 11th Consecutive Bundesliga Title

The curtains closed on a dramatic Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich standing tall once again, clinching their 11th straight title.… Read More

• Entertainment & Music

Celine Dion Cancels Concert Tour Due to Deteriorating Stiff-Person Syndrome

The Unfolding Story of Celine Dion's Health In recent news that has left fans across the globe stunned, iconic singer… Read More

• Uncategorized

Navigating the Crossroads: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the LA Lakers’ Uncertain Future

As the echoes of the recent NBA season start to fade, the attention of enthusiasts is firmly glued to one… Read More

Open Access is an initiative that aims to make scientific research freely available to all. To date our community has made over 100 million downloads. It’s based on principles of collaboration, unobstructed discovery, and, most importantly, scientific progression. As PhD students, we found it difficult to access the research we needed, so we decided to create a new Open Access publisher that levels the playing field for scientists across the world. How? By making research easy to access, and puts the academic needs of the researchers before the business interests of publishers.

We are a community of more than 103,000 authors and editors from 3,291 institutions spanning 160 countries, including Nobel Prize winners and some of the world’s most-cited researchers. Publishing on IntechOpen allows authors to earn citations and find new collaborators, meaning more people see your work not only from your own field of study, but from other related fields too.

Brief introduction to this section that descibes Open Access especially from an IntechOpen perspective

Want to get in touch? Contact our London head office or media team here

Our team is growing all the time, so we’re always on the lookout for smart people who want to help us reshape the world of scientific publishing.

Home > Books > Education at the Intersection of Globalization and Technology

Indian Education: Ancient, Medieval and Modern

Submitted: 03 July 2020 Reviewed: 17 July 2020 Published: 27 October 2020

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.93420

Cite this chapter

There are two ways to cite this chapter:

From the Edited Volume

Education at the Intersection of Globalization and Technology

Edited by Sharon Waller, Lee Waller, Vongai Mpofu and Mercy Kurebwa

To purchase hard copies of this book, please contact the representative in India: CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd. www.cbspd.com | [email protected]

Chapter metrics overview

3,533 Chapter Downloads

Impact of this chapter

Total Chapter Downloads on intechopen.com

Total Chapter Views on intechopen.com

Overall attention for this chapters

Education is a platform in which young generations are trained and make them future-ready. Education provides knowledge and skills which help the person to be employable. The Indian education system is very popular and diversified among other countries’ education systems due to its change in the evolution from ancient to the modern education system. During the ancient and medieval periods of education, students were trained by teachers in such a manner that they can survive and live in that era. After independence, there is a tremendous growth in the Indian education system providing teaching and training in all aspects, but it does not satisfy the global demands of the market. This chapter focuses on teaching methodology, curriculum, characteristics, methods of learning, aims of the Indian education system during the ancient and medieval period and how it differed in today’s modern education and what are the things that our today’s modern education need to learn and implement from ancient and medieval education. The mentioned points are used to differentiate ancient, medieval, and modern education with advantages and disadvantages. Through this chapter, students, teachers will get to know the difference in the education system and what else to be adapted in the future to overcome all the problems.

Author Information

Mangesh m. ghonge *.

• Department of Computer Engineering, Sandip Institute of Technology and Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra, India

Aniket Singh

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Technological improvement has boosted the economic growth in India. Science and technology have an important role in the economic development of India. Compared to other developed countries, India has more youth manpower. Proper education will play a significant role in making youth future-ready and increasing economic growth by providing skilled persons which will also boost industrial development. In the modern era of education, every institution or university is adapting new teaching methods using their teaching methodologies. Indian education is the biggest and well-known education systems in the world. During ancient education, there were 5 big well-known universities like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vallabhi, etc., which focus on the all-round development of students and those in the medieval period there exists 2 institutions madrasah and maqtabs which mostly focus on building student religious and leaders of the future. In modern education, there are well known autonomous institutes like IITs and IIMs which are famous all around the world.

During ancient education, students live away from their parents, their education comprises of subjects like physical education, mental education, politics, economics, etc. They were shaped in a way that they can live in any condition considering how difficult the situation will be? Medieval education also followed the same protocol as ancient education in spite that their education mostly focuses on religion. In today’s modern era of big institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), everything is changed like the living standard of students, curriculum, all-round development. The principle objective of the student has been to just achieve its goal and be successful. Only the big institutes like IITs, IIMs, and some other private and aided universities have adopted modern methods of learning. There is a difference in curriculum, teaching methods, and living standards of students in every institute. The syllabus of the current education system is not industry-oriented and also not according to new upcoming trends. The main objective of education is mostly theoretical and not practically implemented [ 1 ].

The main purpose of this paper is to convey what all the things need to adopt in our current education system from ancient and medieval times and also some new trends associated with it. The paper is mainly categorized into three sections Ancient, Medieval and Modern education system, including sub-sections such as curriculum, method of learning, the aim of education, characteristics of education, educational institutes, higher educational institutes, advantages, and disadvantages of the particular education system.

2. Ancient education

During the ancient period, two systems of education were developed, Vedic, and Buddhist. The medium of language during the Vedic system was Sanskrit, while those in the Buddhist system were pali. During those times the education was of Vedas, Brahmanas, Upnishads, and Dharmasutras. From the Rigveda onwards, our ancient education started with the objective of developing the students not only in the outer body but also on the inner body. The ancient education focused on imparting ethics like humility, truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance, and respecting all creations to the students. The education was mostly imparted in ashrams, gurukuls, temples, houses. Sometimes pujaris of the temples used to teach students. The education system of ancient India has some special features and uniqueness which was not found in any other ancient education system of the other countries. The education was mostly given in forests under the blue sky, which keeps the student’s mind fresh and alive. During ancient times people used to live a simple life and doing their work with devotion and hard work [ 2 ].

2.1 Aim of education

The main objective of education was to equip the students with a good quality of education. The education mostly focused on the enrichment of culture, character, and personality, development, and cultivation of noble ideals. The objective was gaining the mental, physical, and intellectual personality of students, to make the students future-ready and survive in any situation [ 3 ].

2.2 Characteristics of education

During the ancient period, the state government and the people did not interfere in designing curriculum, payments of fees, regulation of teaching hours. There was a strong bonding between teacher and student. Every student was allotted with one teacher and more emphasis was given to the student-teacher relationship, each student used to meet teachers personally to learn and gain instructions from them. During ancient times, royal families, as well as kings of states, used to donate their wealth to improve the education system and quality. The syllabus was designed in accordance with the demands of that era. At that time students used to leave their houses and went to live with their gurus until their education was completed. During the early Vedic period, women’s education was also given more emphasis. The education focuses on the physical and mental development of students. The course duration was about 10–12 years, as there were no books so students used to memorize all things, memory played a crucial role during learning. The education was imparted in forests away from cities and peoples to give students a pleasant and silent environment of study.

2.3 Curriculum

Curriculum plays an essential role in the education system. It was dynamic and not static; it was made up of different stages. The fundamental goal of building a good curriculum was to develop students physically and mentally. The curriculum consists of four Vedas, six vedangas, Upnishads, darshanas, Puranas, Tarka Shastra. The six vedangas were Shiksha, Chhandas, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisha, and Kalpawhile the darshanas were Nyaya, Baiseshika, Yoga, Vedanta, Sankhya, Mimasa. Algebra, Geometry, and grammar were also given more importance at that time. Panini was famous in the domain of grammar at that time. The curriculum of the Buddhist system consists of pitakas, Abhidharma, and sutras. Besides this medicine, Vedas were also given importance. Hindu learning was a part of Buddhist learning, although more emphasis was given to Buddhist learning. Both the systems were going hand in hand at that time. The education was totally through orals and debates, and the exams were conducted every year. The education system of the ancient period focused on subjects like warfare, military, politics, religion.

2.4 Methods of learning

At that time books were not there, so students had the habit to learn and memorize all the things taught in the class, and teachers also helped them in memorizing.

The students used to deep dive into the concepts taught by their teachers and explore new methods to learn it.

Listening, Contemplation, and concentrated contemplation were some new methods of exploring the way of learning.

The teachers used the storytelling methods to teach the students.

Students used to ask questions about the topics taught by the teachers and these topics were discussed and then answered to the students.

The education of that time mainly focused on practical knowledge of the topics taught in the class.

The students got plenty of knowledge through seminars and debates conducted at frequent intervals.

2.5 Educational institutions

Gurukul was the hometown of teachers where students come after completing their initiation ceremony and learn until the completion of their study. The parishads or academies were the places of higher learning and education where students learn through discussions and debates. Goshti or conferences were the places where the kings of the states used to invite scholars from every institute to meet and exchange their views. Ashramas or hermitages were the other learning centers where students from various parts of the country used to come and learn from saints and sages. Vidyapeeth was the place of spiritual learning founded by great Acharya, Sri Shankara in places like Sringeri, Kanchi, Dwarka, and Puri, etc. Agraharas was an institution of Brahmins in villages where they used to teach. Viharas were the educational institutions founded by Buddhists where the students were taught the subjects related to Buddhism and philosophy.

2.6 Higher educational institutions

Takshashila or Taxila: Takshashila was the famous center of learning, including religion and teaching of Buddhism in ancient times. It was famous for his higher education learning comprising of subjects like ancient scriptures, law, medicine, sociology, astronomy, military science, and 18 silpas, etc. The well-known scholars from the university were great grammarian Panini, he was an expert in his subject of grammar and published his work on Ashtadhyayi, Chanakya who is skilled in statecraft both studied here. Students from Kashi, Kosala, Magadha, and also from different countries flocked into the university despite a long and arduous journey. Takshashila was an ancient Indian city currently situated in north-western Pakistan was the well-known center of learning and has been declared as an archeological site and world heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1980.

Nalanda: When Xuan Zang came to Nalanda it was called Nala, which was the center of learning in many subjects. The students used to come here from different parts of the country and the world to study here. Different subjects were taught, including the Vedas, fine arts, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy. Xuan Zang itself became the student of Yogashastra. Nalanda which is currently situated in Rajgir, Bihar, India was also declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The other famous institutes around ancient times were Vallabhi, Vikramshila, Ujjain, and Benaras.

2.7 Advantages

The system focuses on the all-round development of students.

More emphasis was given to practical knowledge rather than theoretical knowledge.

The students were not just involved in bringing the ranks, but their main focus was on knowledge.

Classrooms were built-in forests which provide a pleasant study environment to the students.

There was no pressure laid on students related to studies so that they can learn effectively.

The government did not interfere with the formation of curriculum, kings at that time helped in the development of education.

2.8 Disadvantages

Women were not admitted to the Gurukuls.

There was caste discrimination as only Kshatriya was allowed, Eklavya was not given admission to the Gurukul.

3. Medieval education

During the eighth century Anno Domini (A.D) a huge number of Mohammadian invaded India. Mahmud Ghaznavi captured India and set up a large number of schools and libraries in the country by the looted wealth. Later Muslim leaders established their permanent empire in India, they brought a new system of education. The ancient education system was drastically changed. The Arabs and the Turks bought some new cultures, traditions, and institutions in India, in that the most remarkable change was the Islamic pattern of education which was different from the Buddhist and Brahmanic education system. The medieval age, education system primarily focused on the Islamic and Mughal System.

3.1 Aim of education

The main objective of education during the medieval period was the spread of knowledge and the propagation of Islam. The objective behind this era of education was to spread Islamic education its principles, and social conventions. The purpose of the education system was to make people religious minded [ 4 ].

3.2 Characteristics of education

The rulers helped in the spread and development of education. They helped in the establishment of different educational institutes and funded it, big landlords also gave them some wealth in the development of institutes. There was no control of rulers over the educational institutes and also to their management. The student-teacher relation was also good like the Buddhist and Brahmanic period, although students did not live with their teachers at that time. Teachers took interest in learning, at that time teachers were used to teaching students individually.

3.3 Curriculum

During that time books were not there, therefore the students were used to write on taktis. The stress was laid on teaching the student from the beginning that is teaching them first alphabets and then words. Calligraphy and grammar were the most important subjects taught during those days. Students also learned “paharas”(multiple of numbers), and also they memorized it while learning. Arabic and Persian were the main languages of communication and these languages were important for the students who wanted to get higher posts. The recitation of the Quran was made compulsory, the students used to learn the Quran by heart as this was an important part of their curriculum. The students at their early ages were taught to recite the first 13 chapters of the Quran as a poem. Ibn Sina, an Islamic Persian scholar, and a teacher write that students during the age of 14 should be given the choice of selecting their favorite subjects for masters, for example, reading, manual skills, literature, medicine, geometry, trade, and commerce. There were two types of education during medieval times like secular and religious education. Religious education consists study of the Quran, Mohammad, and his invasions Islamic laws and Islamic history. The secular education consists of the study of Arabic literature, grammar, history, philosophy, mathematics, geography, politics, economics, Greek language, and agriculture.

3.4 Methods of learning

Orals, discussions, and recitations of the lesson taught were the main methods of learning at that age.

Emperor Akbar encouraged the students to focus more on reading and writing and to reform the scripts. He wanted the education system to be systematic and advised teachers to first teach students about the knowledge of alphabets, then words-knowledge, and then sentence formation.

More emphasis was given on practical education.

There was no half-yearly or annual examination fixed for students, but the students were evaluated based on practical situations of life.

3.5 Educational institutions

Maktabs:-Maktabs were the center of the primary education for the children of general people. Along with religious education, students were also taught subjects like reading, writing, and arithmetic. They were also taught some romantic literature of Persian example, Laila-Majnu, Yusuf-Julekha, etc. Along with practical education, letter writing applications, and accountancy were also taught in Maktabs.

Madrasas:- After completing the primary education in Maktabs, the students were sent to the Madarsas for higher education. Madarsas were the centers of higher learning and Emperor Akbar did remarkable development in the education of the medieval era. Along with religious and practical education, Akbar stopped the tradition of the Islamic religion and instructed to teach Hinduism and philosophy in many Madrasas. The subjects such as medicine, history, geography, economics, political science, astrology, philosophy, and mathematics were taught in Madarsas. Akbar made subjects like Vedanta, Jurisprudence, and Patanjali compulsory for Sanskrit students.

3.6 Important educational centers

Delhi: Nasiruddin established Madarsa -i-Nasiria under the reign of the Shiraz Allauddin Khilji and established many Madarsas with renowned teachers in them. Mughal emperor Humayun established many big institutions of astronomy and geography in Delhi. He also introduced institutions where subjects like Arabic, Persian, Grammar, Philosophy, and Astronomy was taught.

Agra: Sikandar Lodi established many Madarsas and Maktabs in Agra and attracted many students from other countries to come and study. Akbar made Agra the center of culture, fine arts, and crafts.

Jaunpur: Sher Shah Suri completed his education in one of the educational institutes of Jaunpur city. The main subjects of teaching were political science, warfare, history, and philosophy, Ibrahim Sharki set up many Madarsas in Jaunpur.

Bidar: Mohammad Gawan had established many Madarsas and Maktabs in this city and it became the famous center of learning. The city consists of a library that contains 3000 books on subjects like Islamic theology, culture, philosophy, medical science, astronomy, history, and agriculture.

3.7 Advantages

Practical education was given more importance, students and teacher’s relations were good. Students were taught from the basics and rulers also supported the development of education.

3.8 Disadvantages

Religious and Islamic education was given more importance.

The student aimed to focus on leadership for ruling the country.

4. Modern education

In the middle of the medieval age, the British invaded India and started to capture it. The modern education was introduced during the British empire. In the 1830s Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay introduced the English language. The subjects and the syllabus were limited to some extent, the main aim of modern education of the British was to spread Christianity. As time passed education started to develop and entered into the modern era that is in the twenty-first century, the era of science, technology, and innovations. And the demand and the need for education stills remain the same as it was in ancient and medieval times. In the modern era of science and technology, the industrial sector is increasing day by day. As demand increases our education sector also needs to change and adapt to that environment [ 5 , 6 ].

4.1 Aim of education

The objective of modern education was to inculcate values in students such as equality, secularism, education for all, and environmental protection, etc. To understand the culture as well as people of our country, every student must be provided at least a minimum level of education and also to provide education to the people who cannot afford it, to prepare the students with the ever-increasing demands.

4.2 Characteristics of education

The student-teacher relations remained the same as it was in ancient and medieval, but students did not live in the teacher’s house. As technology is increasing day by day, the education sector is also following the trend of technology by teaching the students through online lectures and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). In Aviation and the medical sector, more emphasis is on practical knowledge as compared to other sectors. Women’s education is giving more importance, and the Government has launched many programs to encourage women’s education. In the modern era electronics gadgets like projectors, Light Emitting Diode (LED), and computers are used to teach the students. The Government has established many programs and there are many organizations that promote education in India.

4.3 Curriculum

In modern education along with studies, the emphasis is given on extracurricular activities and sports for all-round development of students.

4.4 Methods of learning

Students mostly learn concepts through online platforms like YouTube, Coursera, and Udemy.

Students refer to the notes given by the teacher’s side by side while learning online.

During class hours doubts are solved through discussions, debates, etc.

Pupils were assessed based on mid-sem written exams and practical exams to check their practical knowledge.

4.5 Educational institutions

Schools: Schools are the educational institutes where children are sent for their primary education. There are many private and government schools situated in India, primary education means education from Nursery to 10th standard. Children at their early ages are sent to schools to learn poems, grammar, prayers, alphabets, etc. besides this, the other subjects taught in the schools are English, mathematics, science, history, geography, and other regional languages. Schools are situated inside the city, also there are many cultural programs and sports events conducted in schools for the students to develop their interpersonal and physical skills. Private schools are run by organizations and the principal manages the academics and cultural activities in schools.

Colleges: After completing primary education from schools, students are sent to colleges for secondary education. After primary education, students are required to give entrance exams to take entry into colleges and according to the marks scored in entrance exams students are allotted colleges. In some states, during college, they are advised to choose a stream from science and commerce and then further carry on their secondary education. College education consists of 11th and 12th standard. Different subjects taught in secondary education according to their streams are physics, chemistry, geometry, algebra, accounts, and many other regional languages.

University : After the secondary education, students are required to give the entrance exams like Joint Engineering Entrance (JEE) and other state-level exams to take admissions in universities. Students are given choices to choose a stream like a computer, electronics, civil, and Mechanical and then start their career in it. The University provides undergraduate and postgraduate course comprising of course duration of 4 and 3 years, different universities in India are Savitribai Phule Pune University, Mumbai University, and many other aided non-aided and private universities. There are many cultural and sports events conducted in universities for giving students some time to joy and relax from studies.

4.6 Higher educational institutions

Indian Institute of Technology: It is one of the greatest universities in India for higher education like undergraduate, postgraduation, and many more streams. There is a total of 23 IIT colleges in India, every year lakhs of students compete to take admissions in these IIT’s. JEE-Mains and JEE-Advance are the two entrance examinations to take admission in these IIT’s, according to the All India Rank (AIR) and marks students are allotted IIT’s. Due to its high level of educational teaching and curriculum, IIT is famous all around the world.

The other top universities are Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Science (IISC).

4.7 Advantages

Use of technology in learning, students is learning free-lancing and many other new technologies.

Many programs and missions have started to increase the employment of India.

Top class universities and colleges with good infrastructure and environment.

4.8 Disadvantages

Interference of government in education, management, and syllabus.

Lack of quality teaching as well as the environment in government schools and colleges.

Increase in fees of schools and colleges of private institutes.

Lack of practical knowledge orientation.

Due to the increase in fees, the family, which is below the poverty line cannot afford education and hence there is an increase in the number of laborers in India.

Lack of connectivity of the students who lived in rural areas.

5. Conclusion

In the modern era, industries and technology are increasing day by day. Every industry sector is looking for a person who best suits their industry. With the ever-increasing demand for industrial sectors, our current education system also needs to be upgraded. In universities, students are learning just for competing with each other to come first, no practical knowledge is gained. There is a lot of pressure and burden of work and studies on them, due to this student are committing suicide. Our education system needs to learn from ancient and medieval education system regarding the implementation of practical knowledge, student-teacher relations, ways of life student lived in that age, the contribution of kings towards the education, there was no stress laid on students and much more. The future of industries and commercial sectors will be very tough and ever demanding, so our government has to provide such an education system which will bring all-round development in students and make them future-ready and also teach them to live in any critical situation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no ‘conflict of interest’.

• 1. Glukhov VV, Vasetskaya NO. Improving the teaching quality with a smart-education system. In: 2017 IEEE VI Forum Strategies Partnership of Universities and Enterprises of Hi-Tech Branches (Science. Education. Innovations) (SPUE). 2017
• 2. Ahmed A, Ahmed HA. A proposed model of education system using cloud computing. In: 2018 3rd International Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering, Sciences and Technology (ICEEST). 2018
• 3. Available from: http://www.vkmaheshwari.com/WP/?p=512
• 4. Available from: https://www.sociologygroup.com/indian-education-system-features-pros-cons/
• 5. Jayapalan N. History of Education in India; 1996
• 6. Available from: http://digitaltk.com/indian-education-system-advantages-disadvantages/

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Continue reading from the same book

Edited by Sharon Waller

Published: 07 April 2021

By Patience Uzezi Otolo

698 downloads

By Anna Joskin

577 downloads

By Dimas Bagus Wiranatakusuma

541 downloads

• Hinduism, Indian culture, Vedic Science, Yoga, Spirituality, India

Education in India: Ancient and Modern

‘Neti’, ‘Neti’ meaning “learning is a never-ending process and the sources of knowledge are countless.”

In India, illiteracy of a large number of people has turned the visions of “Education for All” into empty dreams. Especially, population explosion has put a heavy pressure on its available infra-structure. According to 2011 census, literacy-rate has gone only upto 74% from 65%. For males it has risen to 82% from 75%, for females to 65% from 54%. About 20% of its population is still illiterate. In absolute number, the figure of illiterates is alarming. No nation can afford to have a large number of its population to remain illiterate, ignorant and unskilled.

Education and the masses

In ancient India, education was confined within a very small section of Indian society. It was not so much because of discrimination that a large number of common people were debarred or denied access to education, as it was due to the following reasons:

• Method to educate  – In the past, because of the method of education, education remained confined within a very small section of the society. In absence of any written material, priestly schools in India had devised a most remarkable and effective system of transferring knowledge to succeeding generations in form of hymns. They restricted it only to those, who possessed brilliant feats of memory and capability to keep its extreme sanctity. 
• Use of Symbolic language – Symbolic language was in use to express thoughts, customs and institutions. The purpose was perhaps to make it easier for the human mind to remember. It gave everything in the society a sacrament, religious and sacrosanct, but not in a narrow sense. Shiva -Shakti stood for Divine masculine-feminine union, four elements of nature – Om stood for the sound of creation,  Trishul for trinity, Lotus for balance, Venus star for creativity, Sacrifice for an offering to gods, Purush and prakriti for ideal man-woman relationship, Somras as a symbol of divine bliss etc. In Upanishads, Hindu epics and Geeta, there are many examples of symbolic mentality. Later on, this trend gave everything an imaginative, mysterious, mystic or divine shape.
• Modern society has lost the mindset to understand the true meaning of this symbolic language and is being criticized vehemently by some sections of society such as Purush-Sukta of Veda says that four parts of chaturvrna have been born from the body of the Creative Deity, from his head, arms, thighs and feet. These are symbolic expressions. It expresses a divine reality. Its sense is that Brahmans were men of knowledge, kshatriyas the men of power, Vaishyas the producer and Shudras the service persons supporting the other three.
• Neti-Neti – There was infinite scope of development. Nothing was supposed to be final. Neti-Neti was the principle for quest of knowledge.
• Masses remained away from formal education , even when everything was put together in the epics – “Vedas”, “Smritis”, “Sutras”, and “Upanishads”, because of the medium being Sanskrit.
• Masses were busy in their hereditary/traditional occupations. Skills were learnt more on job under the training and guidance of people already on the job/occupation. For attaining more skills or furthering their future prospects masses did not depend on formal education, certificates/degrees/diplomas or on formal centres of education and training i.e. schools/colleges.
• The manner, in which hereditary occupational knowledge and skills were transferred, was through practice and experience; not through formal classroom lectures, which often kills originality and verve of people. The system led society to have more production, economic efficiency and specialization in various areas of activities like spinning, weaving, pottery making, bead making, seal making, terra-cotta, handicrafts, brick-laying, metal work etc.
• But still, illiterate masses got the benefit of the knowledge of learned sages and munies. On the basis of their scholarly researches and experiences, the sages prescribed certain  guidelines in the form of rituals  to be followed by common men.

Education in Ancient India

Educational institutions of repute

Many travellers among whom most famous are Magasthenes (a Greek ambassador who arrived at Patliputra in 302 BC), Fa-hien, Hiuen Tsang and I-Tsang threw much light on Indian values and systems. Holy places like Taxila, Ayodhya, Banaras, Amaravati, Mathura, Nasik or Kanchi and capitals of kingdoms like Patilputra, Valabhi, Ujjayani and Padmavati were famous centers of education. Valabhi in Gujarat and Vikramshila in Bihar were famous centers of learning. In south India centers of learning were known as Ghatikas. Most famous centers of learning were the monastic colleges mostly founded by Budhists. Students flocked from all places.

Few of most important universities of ancient India were Taxila (being the first university of world established in Seventh century B.C.), Vikramshila University and Nalanda University (built in 4 A.D). Huan Tsang in his records mentioned the University of Taxila to be at par with Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities. These institutions were considered to be the best Universities of their times in the subcontinent and an honour to ancient Indian educational system.

Takshila University was famous for medical studies. Varanasi was famous for religious teachings. In the South, Kanchi was famous for its studies while the Vallabhi University was no less. There was a galaxy of eminent teachers like Panini- well known grammerian, Kautilya – the minister of Chandragupta Maurya and Charaka – a medical teacher of repute.

Nalanda University – Nalanda was the epitome of such centers. It attracted students not just from India, but also from the entire South Asia. It was an international University. Scholars of different castes, creeds, and races hailing from India, China, Japan, Korea, Java, Sumatra, Tibet, Mongolia and Bokhara came here for higher/advanced studies. The teachers often attracted students from far and wide. It had eight colleges, one of it having four storied building and around 10,000 students and teachers on its roll cards. It was one of the earliest examples of residential cum learning complex. Technical education was usually imparted in the family itself, as most of the professions were hereditary. Sometimes artisans took students as apprentices.

Steps to pass on knowledge – Knowledge was passed on orally from one generation to another in ancient India. Education involved three basic processes:

• Which included ‘Sravana‘ (stage of acquiring knowledge of ‘Shrutis‘ by listening).
• ‘Manana’ (meaning pupils to think, analyse themselves about what they heard, assimilate the lessons taught by their teacher and make their own inferences,) and
• ‘Nidhyasana’ (meaning comprehension of truth and apply/use it into real life).

Method – Students were taught particular texts at home of teacher. It was learnt by rote, enunciation and pronunciation were particularly taken care of. Students were supposed to lead a strictly regulated life. Aims of learning were faith, retention of knowledge, progeny, wealth, longevity and immortality. Besides domestic schools there were specialised agencies, discussions or conferences arranged by the kings. Women freely participated in these conferences. There were Parishads for advanced studies. There were wandering scholars, Chaarakas, who spread education in the country.

Education and women

In ancient India women were given equal right to education and teaching. Women seers like ‘Gayetri’ or ‘Maitreyi’ were prominent participants in educational debates and proceedings of ‘Parishads’ (Assemblies). It was mostly the Brahmins followed by Kshatriyas that received education at the gurukuls, while boys from the lower castes learnt their family trade from their fathers.

Individuals from humblest origin were highly educated and were respected in Indian society as great achievers. Vashishtha, the principal of conservative school of Brahmanism, was the son of Uravshi, a prostitute. Vishwamitra, the quintessence of Vedic Brahmanism and maker of Gayatri Mantra, was a Kshatriya. Aitreya, after whom sacramental part of Rig-Veda is named as Aitreya Brahamana, was the son from a non-Aryan wife of a Brahman sage. Vyasa of Mahabharata fame was the son of a fish-woman. Balmiki, an untouchable according to present standards and the original author of Ramayana, is highly respected all over India.

“An ocean of knowledge in a jar”

Ancient Indian philosophy and Vedic literature contained “an ocean of knowledge in a  jar.” It was supposed to be a magnificent example of scientific division and orderly arrangement of rules, in a few words, in different branches of human knowledge, covering almost all the aspects of life, be it phonetics, arts, literature, medicine, polity, metrics, law, philosophy, astrology or astronomy. It spoke of everything- on staying healthy, social evils, improving concentration and tenets of behavior, which are relevant even today.

“Rituals”

 The substance of the knowlegde, learning and research work of Rishis-Munis (sages and saints) was put in the form of rituals for the benefit of common-men. Certain  practices/guidelines were shaped in the form of rituals by intellectuals and prescribed for the benefit of commom men. These rituals and guidelines inspired people to lead a harmonious and healthy life.

Spot out gems

With a rational mind, raising it from ignorance, one can understand the greatness of Vedic literature. A knowledgeable person can spot gems from this ocean of knowledge; pick them up and leave like worthless pebbles the undesired, obsolete elements developed into the system with passage of time.

Revival of ancient knowledge

During second half of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century, Swami Vivekanand, Rama Krishna Mission and Theosophical Society of India tried to familiarize the Western World, too, to the charm and graciousness of the ancient gold mine of knowledge, which had inspired not only Indians, but foreigners as well. Intellectuals from various countries have translated it in their own languages and reinterpreted it for a rational mind. As India progressed from ancient to medieval, its education system deteriorated. Medieval age began with Rajput culture and ended with Indo-Muslim contacts. Society was marked as conventional society. The grip of conventionalism weakened the society and led to darkness, corruption, anarchy and failure. Various factors were responsible for the degradation of such an efficient and most ancient education system of the world.

Modern education before Independence

Reasons for introducing modern education Finding it too costly and perhaps practically impossible to import enough Englishmen to man the large and increasing number of subordinate or lower posts in administration, British rulers planned of educating Indians in such a way that they “should through western education get Anglicised in terms of both cultural and intellectual attainments”. Lord Macauley clearly said that, “we must at present do our best to form a class, who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a class of persons, Indians in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect.”

Welcoming modern education The atmosphere was completely ready for Lord Macauley to lay the foundation of modern education in India by 1835. Missionaries and their supporters as well as  National leaders, intellectuals and Reformers not only welcomed but exerted pressure on the company to encourage and promote western education in India. Missionaries believed that modern education would lead the people to adopt Christianity. Humanitarians, intellectuals and nationalist leaders considered modern education “the key to the treasures of scientific and democratic thought of the modern West” and the best remedy for social, political and economic ills of the country.

Outcome of modern education In 1844 through a Declaration knowledge of English was made compulsory for Government employment. The traditional Indian system of education gradually withered away for the lack of official support. The government made English medium schools very popular. English as Official language alienated the masses from the educated Indians. Because of modern education and new employment opportunities, many traditional occupations became obsolete. In near absence of industrial, commercial or social service activity, people in India were forced to depend on modern education and Government jobs for their respectful earning. Modernisation of occupations and industrialisation processes increased role of formal education and training for furthering future prospects of people.

The universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were started in 1837 and higher education spread rapidly thereafter. For scientific and technical education, only three Medical Colleges one each at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras was established by 1857. There was only one good engineering college at Roorkee.

National leaders, intellectuals and reformers

Modern education not only produced persons to fill the lower levels of administration, as desired by the rulers, but also produced national leaders, intellectuals and reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dadabhai Naoroji, Ferozeshah Mehta, Gokhale, Gandhi, Jinnah, Ambedkar, Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Moti Lal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Patel and many more. They took upon themselves the responsibility to build a modern, open, plural, culturally rich, prosperous and  powerful India out of a fragmented, poverty stricken, superstitious, weak, indifferent,  backward and inward looking society. In short, they believed that:

• Western literature and philosophy would give Indians the understanding of liberal, scientific, democratic and humanitarian ideas thought of Western World.
• It would make Indians aware of the real issues hampering the progress of Indian society.
• Modern education would improve the life of common men and conquer ignorance, hunger, poverty and disease.
• It would open the key to the treasures of Scientific and Democratic thought of Western World.
• Principles of Democracy would spread rapidly across the nation and finish imperialism and tyranny.
• It would remedy many social, political and economic ills of the nation.

Brahmins ahead of others

Initially, it was an impoverished group of Brahmin and caste Hindus in search of livelihood, who desire to live with dignity and honor opted for modern education. Gradual displacement from their source of income after decline in financial status of their patrons – Princes and Zamindars, appalling poverty of Brahmins compelled them to opt for modern education.

Reason being their poverty, not discrimination

Sir Alfred Croft, Director of Public Instruction in Bengal wrote to Rev. J. Johnston in 1881, “We know well that any considerable increase in the fees paid by college students would compel many to withdraw. It seems not to be fully understood… how poor the middle classes that flock to our colleges really are. Half the students live from hand to mouth…. And yet though, far behind in point of wealth, they correspond to, and are in fact the only representative of our professional classes at home, and the pressure on them for the means of subsistence is so great, that they must either be educated or go to wall.”

Their poverty gets confirmed by a study done to examine the annual income of the guarantors of 1271 Brahmin Students enrolled at Ferguson College, Pune from 1885 to 1895. According to it, 76% of the Chitpavan Brahmins guarantors belonged to the low or medium income groups. Similarly of the 277 Deshastha Brahmin guarantors, 70% came from low or medium groups.

They being natural learners and pursuers of knowledge utilized new type of employment opportunities created with introduction of modern education in 1835. They were quick and far ahead of other communities to grasp almost all the opportunities in these spheres. Their long tradition and undisputed role in the field of knowledge and learning, their intelligence, sincerity and hard work helped them even after independence to secure important places in the modern society.

Why masses deprived of modern education

Except for a few, masses could not avail the advantage of formal modern education. Relentless effort of missionaries and reformers could educate a very small number of  people. Reasons being:

• Modern education was very costly and, therefore, unaffordable by the masses.
• Masses did not see any immediate use of education. It was more important for them to work and arrange two square meals day.
• The emphasis was on English medium education system.

Served double purpose

Introduction of modern education had served adouble purpose for the British rulers – they got the credit for the amelioration of the Indian society. But at the same time, through it, they devised a unique method of distribution of power, kept balance of power and prolonged their rule in India by keeping the natives busy in their in-fights.

Impact of modern education

The second half of the nineteenth century saw the impact of modern education on the minds of Indians as under:

• Christian missionaries brainwashed many people especially the poor by preaching and educating them and developed in their minds a complex about the primitiveness of Indian society, influenced them towards the alien culture and then converted them into Christianity. With the help of British rulers, Christian missionaries and religious minded Westerners like William Webberforce or Charles Grant, they succeeded in converting many persons into Christianity.
• National leaders, social reformers, educated people and intellectuals welcomed rationality and other good features of Modern English education. They also got alarmed at divisive policies of the rulers. It led them to lead the national movement. They understood the real issues hampering the progress of Indian society. These organizations had purely an economic and social thrust. They fought against social evils caused by ignorance, superstitions or irrationality like untouchability and inhuman treatment to women, Sati, Polygamy, child marriage, and many others prevalent at that time. Emphasis was laid on education and science. They criticized the mumbo-jumbo of rituals and superstitions created by some selfish people to entangle the ignorant and poor masses.
• Reformers got alarmed at the erosion of Indian Culture. Organizations (like Brahma Samaj founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy  (1828) in Bengal, Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra (1867), Arya Samaj (1875) founded by Swami Dayanand in Northern India, Rama Krishna Mission, Theosophical Society of India (1879), Dev Samaj in Lahore and Servants of India society) interpreted religion rationally and advised people to remain firmly rooted to the Indian Culture and not get swayed away by the glamour and materialism of alien culture.
• “Back to Vedas” – Therefore, they organized people, held conferences, published articles and undertook internal reform efforts through Sanskritization. They gave a call for “Back to Vedas” and advised people to set free Hinduism from all degenerate features. It was not the Hindu principles, but the practices, which went wrong. Vivekanand said, ‘It is we, who are responsible for our degeneration.‘

Divisible policies of the rulers

Many national leaders and intellectuals got alarmed at the divisible policies of the rulers. They realized the impact of British racial discrimination in the areas of education and jobs and their repressive policies elsewhere. They realized the impact of British racial discrimination. Economic loot, political subjugation, assertion of lordly superiority over the subject on the ground of race, assumption of a haughty exclusiveness, persistent insulting and supercilious behavior towards all Indians, exclusion of Indians from all places of authority and responsibility and denial of their capacity for self-governance united Indians against British rule. The destructive character of repressive policies of British rulers lit the fire and gave birth to national movement.

After Independence

After independence, even relentless effort of reformers, government and NGO‘s only a small could educate a very small number of people especially from amongst  backwards. Masses could not avail the benefit of modern/formal education. It is not so much because of resistance from caste Hindus, as for other reasons.

Reasons for not succeeding in “educating all”

It is falsely accused and propagated by some intellectuals, leaders, reformers and supporters of Reservation/Affirmative Action Policy that privileged upper castes have taken advantage of modern education to establish or reinforce its traditional dominance. They prevented lower castes from getting educated or promoting their status in modern society. However, as modern history points out, on the contrary, it was mainly impoverished group amongst Brahmin and caste Hindus opting for modern education, who were in search of livelihood.

Impoverished group

Costly nature –  General masses have not still availed the benefit of modern education. Reasons for illiteracy of a large number of people are many. Quality education is still very costly for common men and, therefore, unaffordable for masses. Costly nature has tended to make it a monopoly of the richer classes and city dwellers.

Population explosion –  Population explosion has put a heavy pressure on available. There has been insufficient infrastructure. There is lack of quality education and training systems in government or government aided institutions. Masses do not see any immediate use of education. It still is more important for the poor people to work and arrange two square meals a day.

Importance of English language in modern world

With the changed scenario due to globalization, liberalisation and revolution in Information Technology, English has been accepted internationally as a means of communication. Therefore, learning English language has become necessary to get a space in international world. Education through foreign medium is a difficult task. Earlier English medium had already put undue strain upon the nerves of the Indian students.

Alienation of masses

The language of majority of people is Hindi. However, stress on English medium education and English language is more than it was before independence. After Hindi, English language is being spoken especially by educated Indians, mostly belonging to upper echelons of the society. Increasing importance of English has alienated further the masses from educated ones.

Short-comings of present education system

There are some deficiencies in the present Education system, some of which have  been inherited from the British. There are many internal as well as external many  pressures on the system, because of which quality of education suffers.

External pressures – Externally, recent social changes and larger political turmoil have affected adversely the whole atmosphere. Some changes took place in the recent  past in the character, role and inter-relationship of the six main constituent of the national elites – the political executive, the legislators, the businessmen, the organised workers, the surplus farmers and the bureaucrats. Narrow loyalties, sectional interests and sub-cultures like favouritism, nepotism and corruption have fast become an accepted way of life.

Result is that communal, regional and caste conflicts and unhealthy competition  between different sections for power and pelf are increasing every day. Powerful lobbies desire to have exclusive hold on scarce resources of the nation. Few persons and groups, who have the power in their hands and who control almost every walk of national life are working to deny justice to common men. The reflection of all these social evils is found in the educational system as well.

Internal pressures – Based on colonised British Grammar School type education has made Indian students crammer, imitators and unfit them for original work and thought. It has not taught them to have pride in their surroundings. The more they get, the farther they are removed from their surroundings and at the end of their education, they become estranged from their surroundings. They are losing their natural character, because they are getting away from their traditional aspirations and values in preference to the western materialism. Alienation of modern generations from their  roots and culture alarmed Gandhiji and he said, My real education began after I had forgotten all that I had learned at School”.

Rajgopalachari had said, “If there is honesty in India today, any hospitality, any charity — any aversion to evil, any love to be good, it is due to whatever remains of the old faith and the old culture”. Tolerance, truth, Ahimsa, peace and non-aggression are the hallmark of Indian culture.

What should be the limit of tolerance – The people in India endure injustice and unfairness until they are pushed right upto the wall. Many times in the past, Indians had accepted oppression and exploitation without much protest, while such situations would have led to bloody revolutions elsewhere in the world. Even today, the people are tolerating the corruption, scams, scandals and criminal activities developed in political sphere, as well as inefficiency seeped deeply in administration without much protest. People need to be taught not to tolerate injustice and raise their voice against it peacefully.

Influence of West

Present education system has given rise to a group of Indian intelligentsia which is influenced in a big way by social, political, economic norms of western world and their way of living. It vehemently denounce culture, character and social value system of India. It regards the culture of the land as indefensible, responsible for creating many discriminatory social values. The number of such people is increasing. The more its number of such persons grows, especially amongst Indian intelligentsia, the more intolerant, people would become.

Influence on modern youth

A drastic change is visible in the values, behavior and etiquette of a new educated neo- rich youth of elitist class, which has emerged especially in Metros. Their life style and value system are being gradually replaced by the Western ones. They want to enjoy pleasures of modern life at any cost without any restriction. They are more conscious of their rights and want to enjoy life fully in any possible way without any  bondage. They do not like any restriction/comment on their behavior or way of life. Loosening grip of social bondage and observances have made many of them selfish, self-willed and arrogant. Some of them have become so intolerant and aggressive, that they out-rightly discard all social norms and etiquette.

Their thinking and value systems are quite different from the older ones. Most of them generally regard Indian value system as rubbish and its epics as irrelevant. They set their own rules. Their yardstick of smartness is interest in stock exchanges, glamour, pubs, parties, discos or late night culture, which gives rise to many kinds of social problems. With growing cult of materialism and consumerism, finer values of life are disappearing fast. Lust for material gains, comforts, craze for luxurious and glamorous life style has made them so insensitive that they hardly feel anything about the hardships and agonies of the “have-nots”. Friendship/relationship prospers only if these cost-effective. Otherwise people do not hesitate in showing their helplessness due to lack of time or energy. The persons, who readily help people in need are considered fools in modern society.

Objective of education?

Once more, India has to be made a hub of knowledge creation. It will be a big blunder, if it fails to do it now. India‘s massive human resource needs to be cultivated through sound system of education and training to get out of the rut of mediocrity. The system of education and learning should be such that it could the faculties of human beings ‗in proper manner towards proper objectives, channelize the desires and energies of Indian people towards proper objectives and right activities. Discipline and productivity are necessary for education.

Amalgamate Indian Culture with western Mechanism Eastern part of the world surpasses the West by no small measure on issues of culture-starting from Egypt and moving eastward through Mesopotamia, Indian sub-continent, China and south east Asia. Indian culture has kept, thousands of years old XYZ alive, despite hit after hit on our successive generations from outsiders. When it comes to advancement in knowledge and science it is the west that has led the world. Looking at the mechanism of expansionism and spreading out, the west has always had the upper hand. Otherwise how could a nation of a handful travel the world over and thrust its imperialism on it. A segment of this group, by sheer hard work and patience, threw the imperial mechanism overboard and built up a nation, living in which is a dream of every young person. In short, the above discussion throws up following important issues:

• Importance of knowledge in education cannot be denied. Purpose of education has unfortunately been misunderstood to mean acquiring as much academic knowledge as possible, leading towards award of degrees. But equally important is inculcating skills in all the vocations according to aptitude of different individuals through practical training for overall development of nation. Training in different vocations should be given when minds of individuals are still in formative stage. Training becomes necessary for applying knowledge in real life.
• There is no doubt that modern education has given to India the key to the treasures of scientific and modern democratic thought. It is the west that has led the world in advancement in technology and science. It opened up the doors for liberal and rational thinking. It widened the mental horizons of Indian intelligentsia during nineteenth century. However, somewhere it got derailed and now the system of education at all the stages, from preliminary through secondary right up-to the college stage makes mind just a store-house of knowledge and discourages creative thinking.
• India surpasses the west by no small measure on issues of culture. It is one of the oldest living culture in the whole world, despite hit after hit on it in the past during alien rule.
• For building an ideal structure for education, an amalgamation of eastern culture and western methods, liberal thinking and advancement in science and technology of the West would be the best for future generations.
• The world is now a global village. Thanks to revolution in areas of information, communications technology and travel apparatus. It will be good if the forces of both – culture and systems – could be combined and a charter of an ideal education blueprint could be evolved for future generations.. Why not we combine the forces of both these, Culture and Mechanics, and evolve a charter of an ideal education blueprint for our future generations. Technology advances have brought us to a stage where every concept is an option! Why not cash upon it?

  ~ Namrata Chauhan, Alumna, Hansraj College, Department of History, University of Delhi

You may also like

10 Compelling Reasons to Visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya: A Confluence of Historical Faith and Modern Progress

The hanging pillar and wonders of Lepakshi

Sanskriti calendar 2024.

Search the website

Like us on facebook.

Get daily updates via Email

Enter your email address:, recent posts.

Navratri Series – Day 9: Goddess Siddhidatri – The Bestower of Supernatural Powers

Celebrate the conclusion of Navratri with Goddess Siddhidatri on Day 9. Learn about her powers to bestow siddhis and her role in achieving spiritual enlightenment. #Navratri2024 #GoddessSiddhidatri #SpiritualJourney

Navratri Series – Day 8: Goddess Mahagauri – The Beacon of Purity and Serenity

Day 8 of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, known for her purity and tranquility. Discover how she symbolizes cleanliness and moral integrity, offering peace and renewal to all.

Navratri Series – Day 7: Goddess Kalaratri – The Fierce Protector

Explore the might and mystique of Goddess Kalaratri on Day 7 of Navratri. Learn about her role as the destroyer of darkness and her powerful protection against evil.

Navratri Series – Day 6: Goddess Katyayani – The Warrior of Righteousness

“Discover the powerful essence of Goddess Katyayani on Day 6 of Navratri. Learn how she embodies courage and fights for righteousness, symbolizing victory over evil.

Navratri Series – Day 5: Goddess Skandamata – The Mother of Wisdom and Courage

Day 5 of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Skandamata, embodying maternal love and warrior strength. Discover how she imparts wisdom and courage in our lives.

Sanskriti comes from the Sanskrit root “kr” which means to do or to make prefix “sam” is applied before it to convey a sense of embellishment.  It means actions done for the holistic refinement and perfection all the potentialities within a human being.

Important Links

“The term “Rishi” in Sanskrit originates from a root that means “To See.” Rishis, quite literally, “see” truths that are unveiled to them in elevated states of consciousness. .These   are recorded in Sacred texts called   Upanishads , Vedas etc. The wisdom imparted by ancient Rishis has not only enriched the realm of inner science but has also played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing modern scientific understanding.   Let us Explore……

Sanskriti Social

Copyright © 2024. Sanskriti Magazine

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.

Traditional Education vs. Modern Education

Table of Contents

Overview of Traditional vs Modern Education: The debate between traditional and modern education is one that has been around for centuries. It is a debate that is often seen as a battle between two competing philosophies, with proponents of each arguing that their approach is the only way to effectively educate students.

Fill Out the Form for Expert Academic Guidance!

Please indicate your interest Live Classes Books Test Series Self Learning

Verify OTP Code (required)

I agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy .

Fill complete details

Target Exam ---

It ultimately comes down to a matter of preference and what works best for each individual student. Here the question arises in what ways modern education is affecting our lives, what style of education is preferred to be the one to be implied, and above all what are the pros and the cons of traditional education and online education. This article will cover everything about Traditional education, modern education and the differences between them.

Traditional Education

Definition: Traditional education is also called traditional education or general education. A key motivation for traditional education is to pass on the values, moral and social skills of the next generation needed to survive. In traditional education, the learner learns about the customs and traditions of the community in which he or she lives. This type of education is mainly given to students in the form of oral repetition.

Modern Education

Modern Education is the latest and most recent version of education in schools and educational institutions in the 21st century. It focuses not only on outstanding courses in Commerce, Science and Arts but also aims to promote critical thinking, life skills, value education, analytical skills, and decision-making skills for students. Online Education also uses the latest technology such as mobile apps, audio and video forums such as YouTube, Podcasts, E-books, movies, etc. teaching students and making the learning process attractive and engaging.

However, traditional and modern teaching methods are effective and useful in online education. Modern teaching methods are very important and play an important role in the development of children’s education and knowledge. Modern education includes a variety of learning and teaching methods, including popular spatial learning, which encourages students to switch quickly between activities. With the application of science and technology in teaching methods, education becomes more interesting, easy, and interesting for students.

Traditional Education vs Modern Education

Modern education differs significantly from traditional methods and is now widely practiced in schools with a greater emphasis on science and technology. A variety of computer technologies, the Internet, and projector presentations help modern education to make classes interesting and interactive for students. Unlike traditional textbooks and theoretical learning, modern education reduces the boundaries of the traditional system to learning through experimentation and experience. Students were provided with known facts and knowledge in traditional education, but at the same time, critical thinking and problem-solving skills were introduced so that they could conduct research and reach higher levels in online education.

Because traditional methods use repetition and memorization of information to teach students, it means they do not develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Back then, education or knowledge focused only on the skills needed to survive. Then came the era of widespread application of science and technology in everyday life. This was also the period when science and technology began to develop the fastest.

By 1911, colleges around the world were trying to become modern universities, and the traditional teaching of conversation was being replaced by new approaches. Modern “ folk literacy “, defined by career-oriented and practical writing skills, replaced the traditional “classical literacy”, which was associated with the gentleman’s study of the great books for social and personal satisfaction. Smartphones, laptops, and notepads have become a means of learning these days.

“It was believed that education was meant only for people from high society.”

People thought that modern education is bad for their children because modern education does not teach religions, traditions, and customs. Traditional education is the study of culture, traditions, and customs, while modern education teaches students to improve their skills.

In traditional teaching methods, students learn through memorization skills, while in modern education systems, students learn through human-environment interaction. Unlike the stressful learning of the old education system, students in the new school find learning and grading very easy and fun. Incremental learning is common in both old and new school systems.

As noted above, modern and progressive education is aimed at meeting the individual needs, interests, and abilities of individual students. Education, a systematic progressive approach to learning for the development of intelligence, is based on dynamism.

At some stages, we need our education to function, which requires traditional and modern teaching methods. As we discussed earlier, both traditional and modern educational methods are important, and therefore we need to enroll our children in a school that values and promotes education.

We are all very familiar with the traditional methods of teaching where teaching takes place in a classroom for a group of students. The ancient system of education such as the Gurukulam as well as the system of the medieval period were collectively referred to as the traditional method of education. The teacher-centered educational method has been transformed into a student-centered method. While assessments have been a core element of assessment in traditional education, online education has put forward a grading system that is the best way to provide students with an overview of their knowledge and understanding of the various subjects students are studying.

I hope this article provided you with all the information related to Traditional vs Modern education. Now that you are aware of which method of teaching is beneficial for your child, enroll your child in what suits best for him.

FAQ’s on Traditional Education vs. Modern Education

Which among the traditional and modern education is more effective.

Since the traditional education system is more or less based on reciting and just learning by just memorizing all the concepts modern education is preferred as it helps the students to learn in the most effective and creative way.

What is the importance of modern education?

Modern education not just teaches the students about the topics in the books but also helps them to interact and socialize with the environment which in turn helps the students in their overall progress.

What is the importance of traditional education?

In traditional education, students learn to teach and learn at the same time from their fellow classmates which makes them learn about the very basics of the society in which we are living.

What is the difference between old and new education system?

The old education system focused on books and theory, while the new one is more about practical learning and critical thinking. Traditional education passes on values, and the modern one aims at life skills and decision-making. The new system uses technology like apps and videos, making it interesting but sometimes costly. Traditional education needs a teachers presence, but the modern one doesnt always require it. The debate is about finding the right balance between the two for effective learning.

What are the advantages of modern education over traditional education?

Modern education is better than traditional education because: Hands-on Learning: Modern education focuses on doing things to help you think better, Tech Tools: It uses computers and the internet to make learning more interesting, Flexibility: You can learn online, making it more flexible, Cost: Sometimes its cheaper because you dont always need a classroom or books, For Everyone: It helps all students, including girls, and offers more subjects, Your Own Way: You can learn in a way that suits you best.

Related content

Talk to our academic expert!

Language --- English Hindi Marathi Tamil Telugu Malayalam

Get access to free Mock Test and Master Class

Register to Get Free Mock Test and Study Material

Offer Ends in 5:00

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• Education /

Modern Education: A Significant Leap Forward

• Updated on  
• Nov 25, 2022

The advancement of human civilization is significantly influenced by education . Since the beginning of time, the way that people learn has changed significantly over time and continues to do so as a result of developing technology. However, thanks to the internet and other digital technology, online learning environments are becoming more popular than traditional classrooms. The spatial restriction of a physical classroom has been entirely eliminated by the current educational system, benefiting a wide variety of pupils simultaneously throughout the world. We shall shed some light and talk about Modern Education in this blog.

This Blog Includes:

What is modern education, traditional education vs. modern education, which one is better, need for modern education, what is the purpose of modern education, modern education in india, traditional education and modern education, traditional education: tried and tested, modern education: a welcome change, the wheel of modern education, smart education: the advent of online learning, grading & assessment in modern education, the three main ingredients for effective modern education, modern education: a sample study, why finland’s schools outperform most others across the developed world, benefits of modern education, disadvantages of the modern education system, challenges faced by modern education system, modern education speech.

Modern Education is the latest and contemporary version of education that is taught in schools and learning institutions in the 21st century. Modern education doesn’t just only focus on prominent academic disciplines of Commerce, Science and Arts but also aims to foster critical thinking, life skills, value education, analytical skills and decision-making skills in students. Modern Education also makes use of the latest technology such as mobile applications, audio and video platforms like YouTube, Podcasts, E-books, Movies, etc. to educate learners and make the learning process more engaging and interesting.

We have all been educated in a teacher-centric classroom, a system where the teacher is in upfront and the students are seated in nice neat rows, listening to the lecture and taking notes. This system has been, and to some extent, still forms the core of our education system. Schools have relied on it for decades, and have only recently undergone major changes. Living in the 21st century, technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives. None of us can deny that it has brought about nothing short of an overhaul of our world, and more importantly of our educational system. From chalkboards to whiteboards and now to smart boards, technology has become our main source of research, knowledge, and teaching. This blog is going to shed some light on the modern education system and how it is replacing traditional methods of teaching.

Both traditional and contemporary education is connected to and distinct from one another. There was a point in our nation’s early history when there were no schools. The education or information is passed down to the children from their ancestors. At the time, this expertise was primarily concerned with survival abilities. The people who lived in jungles received their education from their predecessors, who demonstrated to them how to build tools, use animal skins for various uses, and hunt for sustenance. They received instruction on their rites and practices. Their respective beliefs were discussed in class.

They imparted moral lessons to them through the tales of their gods and monarchs. In India, the monarchs used to send their sons to institutions known as gurukuls. They learned how to wield various weapons, how to defend themselves, and how to assault their adversaries at these gurukuls. Additionally, they learned the fundamentals of governing an empire . These kinds of schools weren’t intended for the community. The royal families were the only ones who had access to it. The expertise that their parents possessed was passed on to the other children in the empire by them. The value of education grew across the nation as the democratic government was created in the next years. Schools were opened where any kind of student could come and learn. Modern education was established at this time.

Both types of education have their own place and importance in society. We cannot categorise education as good or bad. Traditional education was good in its time, and modern education is good in its time. Actually, it depends on the individual. It all depends on what the individual wishes to learn. Traditional education is unquestionably better for learning about one’s customs and religion. Modern education, on the other hand, is beneficial to those who wish to learn about science or mathematics. Both types of education are equally important. Our culture is frequently associated with traditional education. And it is beneficial, if not essential, to learn about one’s own culture. Everyone should know their religion’s stories and beliefs, as well as their traditions and culture. Similarly, it is critical to keep up with the world in terms of modern developments that are taking place today. This expresses the significance of modern education. Modern education is required to keep in touch with the rest of the world and to understand what is going on.

The academic curriculum needs to be modernised not simply to keep up with the times, but also to better educate students about the rapid breakthroughs in technology. Becoming flexible to changing times, helps students become skilled at employing both conventional abilities and technical competence with equal ease.

The existing educational system does ordinary people an injustice by limiting their potential, making it impossible for them to handle the intricacies of both private and public life. Since there are many different issues facing mankind in today’s competitive world, the educational system must be made adaptable enough to educate pupils for this dynamic environment .

Here are the key purposes of modern education:

• To foster essential life skills, critical thinking, decision-making skills and analytical competencies in its learners.
• To facilitate a positive approach towards diversity, inclusion, compassion and a sense of responsibility in students.
• To create a fun and engaging learning process.
• To incorporate educational technology to make the learning environment more experiential with a key focus on real-world applications of concepts.
• To ensure that learning and education reach every corner of the world whether through physical classrooms or online learning.
• To build an equal relationship between the teacher and learner and foster the curiosity of students and teach them to inquire and ask questions rather than the passive traditional approach.

The Indian education system has its deep roots in ancient oral learning as well as the Gurukul education system which later was transformed into formal education by the British. Here are the salient features of modern education in India:

• Modern education in India was brought by the British colonisers in the 1830s along with the English language which is credited to have been introduced in India by Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay.
• While metaphysics and philosophy were earlier studied at Nalanda University, the new modern education system brought by the British focused on academic disciplines like Science and Mathematics.
• As India became free from the British, basic education was made compulsory, especially for 6-14 years of age with schools constructed all across the country.
• The modern-age education system of India in the 21st century is constituted of a new approach to learning from online education to skill-development courses, digital learning platforms, a grading system as well as the use of educational technology in the classrooms and a newly introduced New Education Policy !

Notes on Modern Education

Want to study the importance of modern education and how it is different from traditional education? Here are some important study notes on Modern Education:

Teaching styles have changed significantly over the years. The traditional way of imparting education primarily employs recitation and memorization techniques whereas modern education involves interactive methods for effective learning. The following paragraphs elaborate more on both approaches.

The conventional education method focuses more on teaching and passing on information and knowledge to learners. It focuses more on recitation than on anything else. For example, students are made to sit in silence while one student after another would take turns reciting a lesson until each one had been called upon. The teacher will listen to each student’s recitation who is expected to learn and memorise the assignments to the word. Traditional education methods rely heavily on replication-based assessment in practical and written exams as well. However, how traditional teaching methods were utilized more than ensured that students were rewarded for their efforts, used class periods efficiently and exercised clear rules to manage student behaviour. Traditional methods are based on established customs that had been used successfully in schools over many years.

Why is modern education important? Modern education significantly differs from the traditional methods of teaching and is widely practised in schools today emphasising more on science and technology. Progressive modern education focuses more on the student’s needs rather than assuming that all students are at the same level of understanding. It is activity-based comprising of questioning, explaining, demonstration and collaboration techniques. Embodied in the BEd Syllabus , this form of education teaches imaginative, creative thinking and visualization. 

Amongst the core features of Modern Education, Online Education has become a quintessential part of the learning process and pedagogy in the contemporary age. Offering an immense scope of learning anything, anytime and anywhere, the Internet has become a vast pool of knowledge welcoming people of all ages to furnish their skills and expand their expertise in different fields of study. Further, online learning is just a constituent of Smart Education which utilised technology to facilitate an interactive process of teaching and learning. The importance of technology in education is imperative today and you can learn anything and anywhere just with the help of a functioning network connection and a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Apart from the approach to teaching and learning, another unique aspect of modern education is the introduction of a grading system that focuses on providing students with certain grades rather than marks to eliminate the quantification of a student’s knowledge about a subject. While marks were the major element of assessment in traditional education, modern education has brought forward a grading system which is a better way to provide students with an overview of their knowledge and understanding of different subjects. With this advanced marking pattern, students are relieved from the scoring pressure and teachers are also able to highlight the areas where a student needs to work more on and where they can focus on helping the student perform better.

Modern education comprises various learning and teaching methods including the popular ‘space learning’ wherein students are encouraged to quickly switch through activities. It is a learning method in which the condensed learning content is provided with a 10-minutes break for physical activities. For example, students would be provided with 15 minutes of PowerPoint presentation and then allotted 10 minutes of sport. This method aims to improve their learning abilities. It is claimed that physical exercises help brain cells to create a connection that they need to remember the course. Furthermore, it has the additional benefit of allowing people to relax.

Modern education is aided by a variety of computer technologies, the internet, and projector presentations to make studies interesting and interactive for students. It encourages students to engage with the real world, and analyse everything that happens in different life spheres. Students are taken to respective sectors and industries where they witness the practical application of concepts they learned theoretically. These methods help improve the quality of education and improve the engagement of students effectively. 

Also Read: Importance of Value Education

In particular, the advantages of modern education can be summarised as:

• Modern education is a dynamic way of learning enabling students to learn a lot faster. The interaction between students and teachers helps students understand better.
• Enabling students to participate in physical activities to improve their efficiency is another advantage. Modern education allows students to do a lot more than just learn and helps them become more social and interactive. 
• Cocurricular activities, recreational activities, drama and art in education help students to become creative, industrious as well as the patient. This is one of the factors that make students look forward to schooling. 
• Modern education comprises screening classes and lectures which are scheduled at specific timings, this helps to make students punctual and consistent. 

Lack of interpersonal interaction: Courses taken online are self-paced. It is challenging for the students to build relationships with their peers. little to no face-to-face interaction and little social engagement.

The likelihood of becoming distracted: The likelihood of becoming distracted is quite high for students who are less focused and lack motivation. The students wander off course and end up doing something different.

Learners get isolated: since they don’t engage with the outside world, which increases the likelihood that they may feel lonely and alone.

1. Conformity:

Employees are required to abide by a set of rules to accomplish corporate goals or targets, which may limit their freedom and creativity.

2. Loss of Responsibility:

The people feel less accountable for the general expansion of the business as a result of the development in the specialisation. Even though their employees are not receiving the required training and development, it has been observed that firms frequently blame “ globalisation ” for all of their problems.

3. Lack Of Proper Communication:

There is frequently poor communication between various sectors

and teams as a result of overcomplication and shortened deadlines, which has a detrimental effect on the company’s overall performance.

Good morning to everyone in this assembly. I will discuss my opinions regarding the Indian educational system in my speech. People with more education may be easier to drive but harder to lead. Additionally, it makes governing simple but enslaving difficult. It is true that a man is just marginally better than an animal without education. Therefore, true education is the development of the mind, and it is necessary for living a happy life.

Education in India at the Present Time It is true that the Indian educational system is not the greatest. It is fairly monotonous and ineffective due to the lack of revisions and upgrades. Students are not very interested in their education. The issue of student’s lack of enthusiasm for learning is caused by a variety of issues.

People hold the traditional educational system responsible. The system has created a very reflecting image of education and study. Education is more about inquiry than it is about working hard to pass exams and assessments. But it seems like the existing educational system is a hardship.

Lack of computer-based education Only concentrating on books and paperwork is the part of our educational system that is the most onerous. I just want to know why schools don’t eliminate paper from the educational process! In the modern world, computer-assisted methods should be used to provide education. The entire educational system should be automated for all tasks.

Indian Education System Improvement By imposing unnecessary constraints and rules, schools and instructors risk distorting the joyous pursuit of education. Teachers need to entice students with the allures of education, learning, and acquiring information.

Teachers must explain to the students the excitement involved in the process of transmitting knowledge. Classroom instruction must be more entertaining than dull.

Our administration has implemented a number of programmes to address the flaws in our educational system. Consequently, it is a fantastic start. Although education has advanced significantly, much more work needs to be done in the near future.

Conclusion Therefore, if we want to protect our independence, it is absolutely necessary. Our nation has seen how a small number of Englishmen governed this area for more than a century. This resulted from the absence of a real educational system. This should never happen again, and the only way to prevent it is to have an ideal school system. The real education system would enable us to control our fate.

Thus, we hope that this blog on modern education helped you gain some modern perspectives on new methods of learning and teaching. We at Leverage Edu , believe in pushing your potential and bringing out the best in you. If you’re planning to pursue higher education and need assistance, get in touch with our experts and start your career today! 

Team Leverage Edu

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Thank you for sharing the great informatic article. It will definitely many people.

Thank you for taking out the time and writing the comment! Do explore similar blogs and sign up for our newsletter.

Very well explained the modern education system how it will change and how it will work in a positive manner. You can also go for interactive training rooms. If you want your employees to enjoy the initial on-borading days, then head on to automation services provided by lightomated to build interactive training rooms. They use best quality and standardized products like hi tech audio sytems, speakers, remote controlling, etc

Thank you for your comment!

Thanks for sharing. I will try to implement these methods on my blog. Thanks for sharing. Keep updating us.

Thanks for reading.

Wow! Thank you so much sharing this information, I was researching for information on modern education and this has helped me a lot..

Thank for the comment! Please sign up for our newsletter to get all the information you need on studying abroad!

This blog worths reading! Loved the way it has been represented. Thank you for such helpful sentences and ideas that I have been adding to my project. Good day~

Leaving already?

8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMs

Grab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook

Connect With Us

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

September 2024

January 2025

Essays, ancient & modern

By t. s. eliot.

• 4 Want to read
• 1 Currently reading
• 1 Have read

Preview Book

My Reading Lists:

Use this Work

Create a new list

My book notes.

My private notes about this edition:

Check nearby libraries

Buy this book

Lancelot Andrewes -- John Bramhall -- Francis Herbert Bradley -- Baudelaire in our time -- The humanism of Irving Babbitt -- Religion and literature -- Catholicism and international order -- The Pensées of Pascal -- Modern education and the classics -- In memoriam

Previews available in: English

Showing 8 featured editions. View all 8 editions?

Add another edition?

Book Details

Published in, table of contents, edition notes.

Gallup, D.C. Eliot (rev. ed.), A31a Published in part, in 1928, under title: For Lancelot Andrewes. "First published in March 1936"--Verso of t.p.

Classifications

The physical object, community reviews (0).

• Created April 1, 2008
• 12 revisions

Wikipedia citation

Copy and paste this code into your Wikipedia page. Need help?