Why Modi's response to degree row left me disappointed

I admit, I am disappointed. I had thought that the Modi-Irani influence on education would be far more inclusive and accessible for all at any age and stage of their lives. I thought they would stand for life-long learning for all.

Both of them have personal histories of having learnt on the job, with achievements show without traditional schooling. Both demonstrate a respect for certification as a means of credentialing and validation, while simultaneously bearing witness to competence over mere certificate Raj.

I had thought this was the team that would recognise and support others like them, others who sought non-traditional pathways to learning.  Yet, disappointingly, the entire conversation so far is about the mainstream schooling system. India is a country that has an irrepressible energy that needs good, timely and relevant education to foster its growth. All the mainstream gets most of the time is the dried up industrial age rote-learning, certificate-generating and soul-sapping examination with a sort of school system attached to it.

I imagined this skew would end, and end soon. I based it on the simple narrative that had brought these leaders to power.  The Ab ki baar Modi sarkar story was based on learning despite all odds, learning by doing, learning at one’s own pace, and learning with choice. The narrative for the people was the chaiwallah who could get things done. The person who had been schooled in what people called the "school of life".

I had assumed that with such a leader, there would clearly be greater emphasis on learning processes outside of traditional systems. He had studied outside traditional classrooms himself - witness the brouhaha over his degrees.

I expected a strong leader to be able to say - regardless of who certified me competent in a narrow field of studies, this is me, your elect, and I am much more than mere certificates can state.

We need a leader to step up, state this and and stand by it. So that students can know that they too are more than their certificates, and every learner knows that they have opportunities to hand if they try. One more chance, once more, for all. When the Cabinet was announced, they announced Smriti Irani as the choice for MHRD. Even in the face of criticism over her lack of qualifications, that decision gave me hope.

It seemed to be a clear signal for flexible systems that enabled life-long learning for all. Indeed, I saw her selection to the post as a mandate from the boss to enable alternate pathways in learning. I had hoped that her personal history of education would give her the conviction to say - traditional certificates or not, here I stand, able and articulate, and ready to serve you. That happened.

And follow this up with changes in regulations that seek competence, not merely certificates from a uni-channelled system. That did not happen. I had hoped for a widening of learning pathways, for greater access, for more inclusion at every level. That was slow in coming. Not only was there no clear signal that classroom-certification-complex was passé, it was reinforced by all the appointments made based on past laurels.

It was as if defensibility of a decision was more important than the opportunity for change. All politics is the art of the pragmatic, and its first duty is to survive. Yet, I live in hope.  I still hope for an ecosystem of more opportunities for all, regardless of age. I do hope that institutions and schemes to support life-long learning become the first priority now. I had hoped for rapid enablement of pathways that accredit prior experience and learning (APEL) and wait for faster progress. Because there’s still time. There is still time to build a parallel system for those who are left behind. A system where they can claim the benefits of their talent and hard work at their own pace.

Let there be community colleges, and let them be centres of learning in their districts, regardless of the fears that lie in the files before you. Let there be scholarships, and innovation competitions, and cultural grants galore. Let there be many chances to win at sports, and music, and dance, and maths, and engineering and science for all - let there be so much of it and let it it all be so accessible that every child or grown-up, every learner has a chance to try and showcase their worth.

It will change their life, and the path of the nation. All you have to do, the upholders of the establishment, is to create these chances. (It’s okay, you can call it a scheme. Or a yojana). What were your three pillars again? Yes - access, inclusion, cost.

You manage these in building these chances, nee schemes. Then watch the people build excellence.