India - Education system
INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
University
Institute of Technology
College
Open University
School leaving and higher education credentials:
Higher Secondary School Certificate
Secondary School Certificate
Diploma
Bachelor's Degree
Postgraduate Diploma
Master's Degree
Master of Philosophy
Post-Master Degree
Doctorate
Doctor of Laws
Doctor of Literature
Doctor of Science
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 14
Structure of school system:
Primary
Type of school providing this education: Lower Primary School (Standards I To V)
Length of program in years: 5
Age level from: 6 to: 11
Middle
Type of school providing this education: Middle School (Standards VI To VIII)
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 11 to: 14
Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Secondary School (Standards IX To X)
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 14 to: 16
Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Certificate
Senior Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Higher Secondary School (Standards XI To XII)
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 16 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Higher Secondary School Certificate
Vocational Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Secondary schools
Length of program in years: 3
Age level from: 16 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Higher Secondary School Certificate
School education:
School education in India is a two-tier system, the first ten years covering general education followed by two years of senior secondary education. Primary education is divided into two stages: the first five years constitute the primary stage (Standards I-V) and the next three years, the upper primary stage or middle school (Standards VI-VIII).Secondary education usually lasts between two and four years. After two years, pupils who have completed ten years of education (Standard X) take the Secondary School Certificate. Pupils then enter higher secondary schools or Junior Colleges and complete a further two years of education (Standards XI and XII). Courses focus on university preparation. Public examinations are held at the end of Standard IX either by individual states or by Central Boards and lead to the award of the Higher Secondary School Certificate (also called All India Senior School Certificate or Indian School Certificate or Pre-University Course).Vocational education is offered in two years at Higher and Technical Schools and lead to the Certificate of Vocational Education (CVE). Most graduates enter employment.
Higher education:
Higher education is provided by: 1) Universities -including agricultural universities and medical universities- divided into Central Universities, funded directly by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, and State Universities, set up and funded by various states. 2) "Deemed to be universities", single-faculty, multi subjects institutions which enjoy the same academic status and privileges of a university; and 3) Institutions of National Importance, university-level institutions funded by the central government. These include the Indian Institutes of Technology.Most universities belong to the affiliating and teaching type in which departments impart instruction at the postgraduate level and undertake research. Agricultural universities stress research and extension work. Finally, there are technological universities and ten open universities. There are also research institutions, administered by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, and research laboratories, as well as more than 10,000 colleges, most of which are affiliated to universities. Universities are governed by statutory bodies such as the Academic Council, the Senate/Court and the Executive Council/Syndicate. Funding for State universities largely comes from the State governments and the University Grants Commission. Higher education falls mainly under its jurisdiction. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) represents universities and has the responsibility for all matters within the higher education sector other than funding. Professional institutions are coordinated by different bodies. The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), established in 1987, is responsible for the coordination of technical and management education institutions. Bodies such as State Councils of Higher Education were established recently.
Main laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: National Policy on Education Year: 1992
Decree: National Policy on Education Year: 1986
Academic year:
Classes from: Jul to: Apr
Long vacation from: 15 May to: 15 Jul
Languages of instruction: Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu
Stages of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):
Non-university level:
On completion of Standard X, students may opt for 1) Further secondary school studies leading to the Higher Secondary School Certificate; 2) Craftsman or apprenticeship courses offered in Industrial Training Institutes through the Crafttman Training Scheme and Apprenticeship Scheme and leading to Trade Certificates or 3) Entering a Polytechnic where they are offered one to three-year diploma courses in all subjects except Medicine. There are over 1200 Polytechnics in India. Although planned to train technicians, an increasing number now offer courses leading to degrees and even post-graduate diplomas and certificates. Access to courses for the Higher National Diploma (HND) requires Standard XII.
University level studies:
University level first stage: Bachelor:
First degrees generally require three years' full-time study leading to Bachelor of Arts, Science and Commerce degrees. Entrance to an Honours course may require a higher pass mark in the higher secondary or pre-university examinations. An Honours degree does not generally involve longer study but indicates greater specialization. In professional subjects, courses last for four to five and a half years. The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) can either be taken as an integrated first degree course (five years) or as a two to three-year course taken as a second degree.
University level second stage: Master's Degree:
A Master's Degree in Arts, Science and Commerce generally requires two years of study after a first degree. Most are coursework-based without a thesis. The Indian Institutes of Technology offer three semester studies leading to ME, MSc (Eng) and MTech degrees. Master's courses in Engineering and Technology normally require two years' study after a first professional degree. Candidates must qualify through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Colleges. In Medicine and Surgery, the Master's degree takes two years after MBBS/BDS. The Master of Technology is awarded after a study period of three semesters. Students must complete a research project which usually takes one semester. The Master of Computer Applications (MCA) is awarded after three years' study beyond the Bachelor's Degree.
University level third stage: Master of Philosophy, PhD:
One and a half-year MPhil programmes are open to those who have completed their second stage postgraduate degree. It is a preparatory programme for doctoral level studies. Some universities admit MBBS/BE degree holders to PhD courses. The PhD programme involves two years' study beyond the MPhil or a minimum of three years' study beyond the Master's degree and the submission of a thesis, as well as an oral examination.
University level fourth stage: DSc,Dlitt:
The Doctor of Science (DSc) and the Doctor of Literature (Dlitt) degrees are awarded by some universities two to three years after the PhD for original contributions.
Teacher education:
Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
Teachers for lower primary classes (Standards I to V) are trained in Teacher Training Institutes (also called Junior Basic Training Institutes or Primary Teacher Colleges) attached to State departments of education. The course usually lasts for two years and leads to a Diploma or a Teacher Training Certificate. Upper primary school teachers are trained in two years and the course leads to a Diploma. They must have passed the Higher Secondary School-Leaving Certificate.
Training of secondary school teachers
Teachers at lower secondary level (Standards IX and X) are graduates who have completed a one-year Bachelor of Education at a college affiliated to a university. Teachers at the higher secondary level (Standards XI and XII) are postgraduates who have usually completed a Master's degree followed by a one-year Bachelor in Education. Four Regional Colleges of Education offer a combined four-year integrated programme leading to a Bachelor's degree.
Training of higher education teachers
Teachers at colleges of education must hold an M.Ed and a PhD. Studies for these are undertaken at a number of universities.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance higher education
Since its inception in 1962 at the University of Delhi, distance education has grown considerably. There are now some sixty Institutes/Directorates of distance education attached to conventional universities and ten Open Universities, including Indira Gandhi National Open University with over 150 regional centres throughout India. Distance education programmes cover about one hundred Degree/Diploma courses. Many conventional universities also offer correspondence courses which are sometimes supplemented by contact classes.
Lifelong higher education
Universities and colleges offer adult and continuing education with assistance from the UGC. Programmes include Population Education, Legal Literacy, Science Education and Technology Transfer. There are also evening colleges which provide courses at undergraduate level and, in some areas, postgraduate courses are also offered.
Other forms of non-formal higher education
Non-university level post-secondary education consists in one-year Certificate courses and two- to three-year Diploma courses in various technical and commercial fields. They are conducted by industrial training institutes and polytechnics administered through the state departments of technical education.
WWW: http://www.education.nic.in
WWW:
http://www.aiuweb.org
Role of governing body: Coordinates the work of the universities; establishes equivalences of degrees; acts as a bureau of information; conducts research on university development.
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to non university higher education studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Secondary School Certificate
Minimum score/requirement: Generally 50% - varies from State to State
For entry to: Entry to programmes in technical education ( Industrial Training institutes and polytechnics).
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Higher Secondary School Certificate
Entrance exams required: Pre-university examination. Joint Entrance Examination for the Indian Institutes of Technology and certain centrally sponsored institutes and universities. For entrance to most professional courses students must sit for an entrance examination conducted by each institution. It is followed by an interview. Entrance examinations are also held by some universities for admission to Master's level courses and pre- and doctoral studies in General Education.
Foreign students admission
Admission requirements: A minimum of twelve years' secondary education with English as one of the subjects. Science stream subjects are required for professional courses.
Entry regulations: Some 5 per cent of university places are reserved for foreign students. They must ascertain their eligibility through the AIU or by applying directly to the university of their choice for courses in Science, the Humanities and Social Sciences. Admission to professional courses is regulated through the Indian Missions. Foreign students nominated through the Missions or the Ministry of External Affairs are not required to sit for the entrance examination conducted for admission to professional courses. They must have studied English at secondary school. Students wishing to study Medicine or Engineering must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Maths in the last two years of their secondary education.
Language requirements: Students must have a good knowledge of English. Where necessary, special English language courses are organized prior to university entrance from 1 March to 30 June
WWW: http://www.aiuweb.org
Recognition of studies & qualifications:
Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): Once recognized by the UGC or the AICTE or a similar body, institutions of higher education are expected to maintain a good standard and quality of education and their degrees and diplomas are recognized throughout the country. There are provisions for penal action or withdrawal of recognition if reasonable quality and standards are not maintained and/or if an institution is found involved in serious malpractice. Of late, the AICTE and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)(http://www.naac-india.com) have been given greater responsibilities.
Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
WWW: http://www.iauweb.or
Services provided & students dealt with: Grants and subsidies awarded by the universities and ministries and by exchange programmes. Recognition of degrees of all foreign and NRI students.
References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies
Title: Directory of Institutions of Higher Education
Publisher: Ministry of Education and Culture
Title: Handbook of Computer Education
Publisher: Association of Indian Universities
Title: Handbook of Engineering Education
Publisher: Association of Indian Universities
Title: Handbook of Medical Education
Publisher: Association of Indian Universities
Title: Handbook on Diplomas, Degrees and other Certificates in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific
Publisher: UNESCO PROAP
Year of publication: 1998
Title: Studying in India
Publisher: Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi
STUDENT LIFE
WWW: http://www.iauweb.org
Category of services provided: Academic and career counselling services
Services available to foreign Students: Yes
Student expenses and financial aid
Student costs:
Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 400 (Indian Rupee)
Maximum: 7000 (Indian Rupee)
WWW: http://www.education.nic.in/htmlweb/highedu.htm
Publications on student services and financial aid:
Title: Study Abroad 2004-2005, 32nd Edition
Author: UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO Publishing
Year of publication: 2003
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:
Ministry of Human Resources Development, Science and Technology
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: School examinations are often graded on a percentage basis: 85%+: Excellent; 60-70%: Good; 50-60%: Satisfactory; 40-50%: Average; 35-40%: Pass.Subjects in papers may have different minimum pass marks.
Highest on scale: 100%
Pass/fail level: 35%
Lowest on scale: 0%
Main grading system used by higher education institutions
Full Description: 65-100% First Division/Class; 50-64% Second Division/Class; 40-49% Third Division/Class
Other main grading systems
Some universities have adopted the semester system at postgraduate level and use a marking system on a grade point average
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM