Final paper

Comparison of the education systems of India and Congo

            Education is important for all nations, but each country in the world has its own way of teaching or training students. Some countries have created their own education systems,  some inherited their  methods of teaching from their colonials. This is the case of Congo and India that have colonials past in common. This paper, will research the commonalities and differences of educational systems based on French and British source models. India's higher education system was based on British institutions of higher learning while the Congolese educational system was based on French models.

           The education system in  India and Congo in the nineteenth century was totally different from the modern education. India's education system was unique in its traditions, cultures, languages, dialects, and also the popularity inherited. As I read in this article, Education in India Past and Present (Shemford Futuristic Schools, n.p.), in the past, attending school in India was a privilege because not everybody could attend school; only those who belonged to higher of caste were in school.  According to, History Of Education in India, ( Jayapalan, 15) India's education had different education systems such as the Vedic, the Brahmanic and other systems. The vedic education was meant to be based on religious study. Most courses of study were to teach students about forgiveness, kindness, perseverance and nobleness. Schools did not have sources at all to help students to acquire news skills. Knowledge was verbally transmitted from teachers to students, and this method of teaching was done in their maternal languages. To make sure that students understood their lessons, they were encouraged for self-study and meditation. The Brahmanic education was the study of citizens. "The Brahmanic was not limited to religious studies; it also included the teaching of knowledge of social and civil life, self- control and others elements. The Brahmanic was not only theoretical; it was gave the practical knowledge to face the struggles of life and become successful in future career"( Jayapalan, 16).  This book also states that women studies in the past was most of the time based on household duties. While India's students could major in a specific field, In Congo, the education system was absolutely different going to school for men was a privilege. Many people in the Republic of Congo did not really care about going to school in the past. Most of them did not know the value of being educated, only few Congolese were in school. At that time, Congolese education did not allow women to go to school. There were no sources  available for teachers or students. Whatever teachers taught students and the community, they believed because there was no way of verifying any information.

             Both countries, India and Congo were colonized. British started to colonize India in eighteenth century. The British ruled India from 1858 to 1947. The British were lucky when they arrived because at that time, India was not powerful and united  as it is today. According to the article  "British Tuition," there were territorial disputes among India's states, which  had given the British an opportunity and power to move forward by occupying a large part of India's territories. In the beginning, British used translators whenever they wanted to communicate with Indians. When the British were no longer interested in having interpreters, they decided to break down the language barrier that existed between them and Indian officials. The British thought that the best way to introduce their language to Indians, was by establishing a new education system in the nation."The introduction of modern education in India was primarily motivated by politico-administrative and economic needs of Britain in India" (History Tuition, n.p.).

              Then the British made English as an official language in India which served them in administration. In the beginning, three universities were opened in three different cities. The teaching and examination was done in English, and the new education brought numerous methods of learning. Professors were able to have sources like books, journals, media and others that helped them for teaching. While English  was made as the official language of India, the Republic of Congo was colonized in 1910 by French. Catholic French missionaries were first to introduce educational system in the Republic of Congo. Their mission was to evangelize Congolese. Unfortunately, they were not able to speak Congolese dialects, French missionaries decided to open schools. The main reason that motivated these missionaries was to force them to learn how to speak French. Another reason beyond their motivations was, to create an amazing way to put in order, Congolese social and cultural life instead of just teaching them the gospel.

            Both countries have new educational systems, but their methods of teaching are still reflected on  French and the English institutional models. India's modern education had wildly changed; this new system helps students learn easily than it is been in the past. In this book,  Education in Changing  India,  teachers in Indian schools  use two languages, Hindi and English; this is one of the ways that the country helps students improve themselves in school ( Shrimali, 113). There are also books in regional languages that college students who have difficulties with English language can use. Another change in India's education system is on technology; many students in India take their notes electronically instead of writing on their notebook paper. Classrooms are filled with computers that students can use anytime. The country today has a distance learning; students are not obligated to take their classes on campus like in the past. This distance learning is also opening doors to international students who can take their online classes from their countries. Another trend is the way that schools are pushing students to study. For example, on YouTube Indians believe that just keeping students in regular schools is not enough for kids who are willing to major in science and technology in the future. For this reason, students are required to begin taking classes that will help them to achieve their goals in science and technology ( IIT- Indians Institutes of Technology-World's Best Educational Institutes). Many of these subjects are based in mathematics, physics and others that formed students for an exam that will make them get their admission to the University or Institutes. Two years before students get to high school, they do nothing at all but just study.

          This kind of method for teaching students was not applied in the past. All these changes are making India what it is in world's higher education system. While in India the education system has reached a higher level, Congolese students are still taking their notes manually, but the good thing is that the education system has more sources than in the past. Some teachers have adopted the system of summarizing their courses; after typing them, they are sold to students. This technique allows most students to have their notes, especially for those who cannot take not quickly or have difficulty with French langage. There are some universities where students have access to Internet and books, but these sources are only found in private schools. Congolese education still has a lot to do to improve itself. However, by analyzing Indian and Congolese education systems, they completely look different from their colonials education.The modern education system in India and Congo have been modified, but technically they are still the same. For example, both countries are still using sources like books, journals, media like in the British and French colonials time. India has the same procedure for Bachelors degree, Masters and others. The number of years it takes in India, it is also the same in England. The Congo is a little bit different, Congolese and French diplomas have the same names, but both countries do their exams differently.


          Indian and the Congolese's education systems are offering many advantages to their graduates. Today, India has a lot of universities, colleges and institutes which are filled with different kind of sources. All these schools have libraries and laboratories where students can always find significant sources for their research and everything that they need to build their future careers and achieve their goals. The education system in India does not make students focus just on learning theory. Students are required to put in practice what they are learning from their professors in school.These methods of teaching are very beneficial for students; after graduation they will be able to demonstrate to their employers what they had learned in college. This new strategy of training students also gives them confidence in what they will be doing in their workplace. Indian students are highly trained during their years in college. In some schools like IITs, this formation starts before students get their admission to college. For example, students who are willing to get in Indian institutes of technology are formed from the age of seven to ten. At the age of ten, the school can find out if these students can make it or not. These ways of training students has given them a lot of chances in job openings.  According to YouTube, most of India's students, especially those who major in Science and technology, leave India after graduation. The reason that new graduates always move out of their native country is because they have jobs opening all over the world. The majority of India's students come to work in the UnitedState of America where they are highly solicited, and a lot of American companies like hiring them. Especially with the development of technology in the world, students who had majored in science and technology are solicited everywhere ( IIT- Indian Institutes of Technology-World's Best Educational Institutes ).

           For instance, I was watching the news two months ago,  there was an American guy who invests in companies all over the world, and was hiring people in high technology software, biological technology companies. According to that man, India was the only place where he could found the best talent, the most created talent and the highest educated talent to work in those companies (Education system - US vs. India). While Indian students are being well educated, Congolese college students are still struggling. The Congolese education has not reached this level, but compared to education system in the past; there have been so many changes. In this book  Education in the Democratic Republic Of Congo, (World Bank, XVIII ) Schools have sources  that could not be found in decades. Especially, students who are attending private schools have access to nice equipments which contribute to their improvement of knowledge and skills. Through these powerful sources, students are able to achieve their goals. Students now focus more in practical learning than theoretical learning. When it comes tocollege students training, the Congolese education does not have performance like in India. The good news is that the system is trying its best to prepare students as future careers who would make a huge difference and also be competitive in the market. Many of them have job openings in some Americana's organizations, but this is only in the country and some African countries. However, with their Bachelors degree or Masters they are unable to have a professional job in countries like the United States of America, France, India and others countries.


             India and Congolese education systems are facing  many problems. India's higher education does not have a balance between the Central and the state government. According to Problems of Education in India, Institutes like India's institutes of technology (IITs), Indian institutes of management ( IIMs), central universities are funded by the government. These schools have nice equipment, infrastructures and money that help them do their research while state universities and other institutions are not getting help financially. College students who are in poor families are not getting help from their colleges or universities, this condition makes a lot of Indian college students to give up school. While the Congolese higher education has become just for those who can afford it. Financial problems are the major problems that must be solved. Private universities have materials that are helpful for students, and teachers in these schools are better paid than those who are in public schools. State universities are straggling with the lack of teachers. According to the book
 Education in the Democratic Republic Of Congo, (World Bank, 20 and XXII ) that talked about higher education in my neighbor country, we do not have the same education system, but we are facing same problems it says that teachers are leaving public universities for Private universities because they earn more money by teaching in private schools. In public universities, professors spend sometimes three to four months without getting paid. This neglect does not motivate them to continue teaching in public schools. Students who are attending public universities are unable to achieve their goals as students. For instance, students can spend the entire semester without having  teachers in some courses that  they are required to take. Sometimes students go to school and do not do anything at all because teachers do not show up. And whenever professors are absent, a lesson for that day is considered as it is been taught in class. Public universities are neglected. Another issue faced in Congolese's public universities is that some teachers do not respond to students questions during class meetings. Students are told to do their own research in order to get answers to their questions while teachers know that schools do not have sources, and teachers in these public universities are considered to be like students sources.


           In conclusion, this research paper has a shared feature and differences of educational systems that were founded on French and British models. India's higher education system was established on British mechanism while the Congolese higher education system was based on French mechanisms. Education is very significant everywhere in the world, unfortunately all countries do not have an unique educational system. In some regions, people had founded their own education systems, but some regions had learned their ways of teaching form their colonials. Like these two countries, India and Congo that had been colonized.
    



Cited sources:

1) Shemford Futuristic Schools. (2012). Education in India past and present. retrieved from:
htt://www.shemford.com/education-india-past-and present

2) History Tuition. (2011). Education in British India. Retrieved from:
htt://www.historytuition.com/modern_india/education-british-india

3) Shrimali, K. L. Education in Changing India. New Delhi: India, 1967. Print

4) Jayapalan, N. History Of Education in India. New Delhi: India, 2005. Print

5) World Bank. Education in the Democratic Republic Of Congo: Priorities and Options for Regeneration. Washington: U.S.A, 2005. Print

6) "IIT-Indian Institutes of Technology-World's Best Educational Institutes." YouTube.YouTube,
2010. web,

7) Sharma, Ram N. and Sharma Rajendra K. Problems of Education in India. New Delhi: India, 2004. Print

8) "Education system - US vs. India". YouTube, YouTube, 2008. web

Outline

Introduction: Congo and India have a colonial past in common. This paper will research the commonalities and differences of educational systems based on Franch and British source models.
India's higher education system was based on British institutions of higher learning while the Congolese educational system was based on French models.

1.1 - Describe the history of the Indian system.
1.2 Describe the history of the Congolese system.
1.3 Compare the times when they were adapted for the colonies.
1.4 To what extent are the differences of the educational system in India and Congo identical to the differences between France and England?

 2.1 The new educational models - hybrids between the source countries' "educational institution exports" and newly adapted local needs in Congo and India,

2.2  Bothy countries have new educational systems, but their methods of teaching still reflect what they are based on in the French and the English institutional models. At the same time, new needs and new curricula have created change in the systems......
  
2.3 Advanvantages in the Indian and Congolese higher education systems in light of current needs in both countries
2.3.1 Maintained connections to source models
2.3.2 Added curricular developments and goals
2.3.3 Applied learning rather than theoretical focus (Hands-on learning)


3. Preparing new generations of students in Congo and India for the jobs of the future.
3.1 Job opportunities in India
Higher education system gives graduates more opportunitry than congo's higher education system.
3.2 Job opportunities in Congo
  
4 - Diplomas

4.1 Indian's diplomas are accepted all over the world while Congolese Diplomas in higher education are are not accepted in most countries.
4.2 Congolese diplomas...

5. Challenges in the Indian and Congolese in higher education systems.
5.1 Teachers and professors are paid poorly
5.2 low work morale and absenteeism
5.3 wasted transit from home to school if teachers do not show up
students have few books and no internet access

6. Conclusion
    In conclusion, this research paper has a shared feature and differences of educational systems that were founded on French and British models. India's higher education system was established on British mechanism while the Congolese higher education system was based on French mechanisms. Education is very significant everywhere in the world, unfortunately all countries do not have an unique educational system. In some regions, people had founded their own education systems, but some regions had learned their ways of teaching form their colonials. Like these two countries, India and Congo that had been colonized.