Aims of Education: University Education Commission (1948-1949)
Dr. S.Radhakrishnan examined the prevalent situation of education and recommended some aims of education to modify our educational system. They are as follows:
•Development of leadership
•Preservation and transfer of culture
•Vocational education
•Human and spiritual training
•Development of democratic qualities
•Development of international understanding •Development of character
•Social development
Aims of Education: Secondary Education Commission (1952-1953)
Dr. A Lakshman Swami Mudaliar, the then Vice Chancellor of Madras University in 1952, studied very deeply the educational problems of that time and presented some aims of secondary education in 1953.
(a) Development of democratic citizenship
(b) Improvement of vocational efficiency
(c) Development of personality
(d) Development of patriotism and international understanding
(e) Development of leadership
(a) Development of democratic citizenship
The most important aim of secondary education is the development of qualities of democratic citizenship among the children. In fact, the success of the democracy and the progress of the country depend on the citizens of the country. Therefore, the aim of secondary education is to develop the democratic values such as discipline, co-operation, sympathy, equality and tolerance in the child.
(b) Improvement of vocational efficiency
The secondary schools emphasise crafts and productive work which are needed for economic development. Therefore, education aims at providing the child agricultural, technical and commercial courses to increase his vocational efficiency.
(c) Development of personality
The secondary education commission realised the importance of mental development along with the physical, moral, social and spiritual development of the individual. So, the secondary education aims at bringing out balanced development through co-curricular activities such as, art, craft, music, dancing and similar hobbies.
(d) Development of patriotism and international understanding
The aim of education is to develop the feeling of patriotism among the students by preparing them to sacrifice their interests for the sake of the country. They should also be taught to inculcate international understanding in them, as they are members of the entire world.
(e) Development of leadership
The aim of secondary education is to train the youth to develop their leadership qualities in the social, political, religious, industrial and cultural fields.
Aims of Education: Indian Education Commission (1964-1966)
The educationists of our country were appointed as the members of the commission under the chairmanship of Dr. Daulat Singh Kothari. About this commission Dr. S.Radhakrishnan says, "It is my earnest desire that the commission should survey all aspects of educational system at all levels and impart suggestions that may help the educational system in progressing at all levels". The Kothari Commission is a landmark in the history of Indian education. It aims at surveying the entire field of education and suggesting for its reconstruction according to our national goals. It states, "No reform is more urgent than to transform education to endeavour to relate it to the life needs and aspirations of the people and thereby make it a powerful instrument of social, economic, and cultural transformation, necessary for the realization of our national goals". For this purpose, the commission suggested the following aims of education:
(a) Increasing productivity
(b) Achieving social and national integration
(c) Accelerating the process of modernization
(d) Cultivation of social, moral and spiritual values
(a) Increasing productivity
This commission aims at making education related with productivity to increase national income through science education, work experience, vocationalisation and application of science in productive process.
(b) Achieving social and national integration
India is a land of diverse social groups. Therefore, the aim of achieving social and national integration is very essential. This aim can be achieved by various programmes or steps through education such as: (a) common school systems; (b) social and national services; (c) appropriate language policy; and (d) promotion of national consciousness.
(c) Accelerating the process of modernisation
The present century has seen great advancement in scientific and technical knowledge as a result of knowledge exploration. This needs a radical change in the educational system not with imparting of knowledge but with the awakening of curiosity, the development of proper interests, attitudes and the building up of such essential skills, as independent study and capacity to think and judge for oneself to become a responsible member of a democratic society. Therefore, the aim of education is to accelerate the process of modernisation to spread education, to produce educated and skilled citizens and to train adequate and competent intelligentsia.
(d) Cultivation of social, moral and spiritual values
The national system of education aims at cultivating social, moral and spiritual values in the child. For this purpose, both the central and the state government should introduce education in social, moral and spiritual values in all institutions under their control. The privately managed institutions should also be expected to adopt such education. Some periods should be reserved and instruction should be given to the teacher for this kind of education. The commission also suggests that the University Department of Comparative Religions should show special concern about this aspect of education. India is a secular democratic country where different religions flourish. So, it is necessary to promote a tolerant study of all religions, which will help its citizens to understand one another and make them live together amicably.
Conclusion
It is the first time that we have an integrated picture of Indian education in all its wide and diverse dimensions. The commission lays stress on making education a vehicle of national reconstruction that leads our teeming millions to social, economic, political and moral emancipation. Addressing the 29th Annual Convocation of Utkal University on 8th April 1978, Mr. Morarji Desai, the Late Prime Minister of India, said, "Education system should be recasted in a way whereby the young men are equipped with a spirit of enquiry to distinguish between right and wrong and capacity to stick to truth and to avoid false hood and stay away from doing wrong things". These words outline the main aims of education in the present India.