Why the current system of Indian Education is broken and how to fix it

Education is ‘important’—everyone understands. Education is ‘complex’—everyone agrees. And yet, decade after decade, the cracks in the system are deepening. Why do we constantly feel, generation after generation, that schooling and higher education are deteriorating?

Consider this: decades ago, most government schools and colleges produced individuals who rose to the top of the professional ladder. Today, imagining a similar trajectory feels like a distant dream. The value of a degree has diminished so drastically that even a Ph.D. barely raises an eyebrow, while entry-level jobs demand 2–3 years of experience from fresh graduates.

Something is amiss. So what’s the problem? I believe it is this: we are not truly talking to each other. Conversations are filtered, assumptions replace facts, and hard questions are often left unasked, creating a chasm between stakeholders.

Here is a real glimpse into how each stakeholder is feeling:

• Teachers: Am I even required? Am I different from the teacher next door? They feel undervalued and stuck in a standardised system where their individuality and innovation are often stifled. Teachers fear being reprimanded for tough but necessary disciplinary actions and are left wondering if their presence even makes a difference.

• Principals: How do I juggle everything? Coordinators and principals feel overwhelmed by the daily grind of operations. Even small disruptions—like a handful of teachers calling in sick—can derail plans, leaving little room to focus on fostering academic excellence.

• Promoters / Owners: Why isn’t my investment yielding results? Promoters pour in resources, hoping the ‘right people’ will align with their vision, only to find themselves disappointed when outcomes don’t match expectations.

• Governments: How can we bridge the gap between policy and practice? Policies are drafted with good intentions, but the execution often depends on underconfident schools, overwhelmed administrators, and a hope that someone, somewhere, will fill the gaps.

• Consultants: Why are our insights gathering dust, despite the best people on the project? Why are successes mostly about report releases and on-ground implementation so hard? Despite analyzing data and crafting solutions, consultants often find their recommendations shelved, misinterpreted, or disconnected from on-ground realities.

• Parents: Why isn’t this working when we’re sacrificing and spending so much? There is a limit to how much I can earn/spend. Parents spend a third of their income on children’s education, often taking on significant debt, yet foundational skills and job readiness remain elusive. They’re bombarded with options—from private tuitions to ed-tech startups—leaving them confused, frustrated and more self-doubt.

• Students: Will anything I do ever be enough? Overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations and rising costs, students feel unprepared and disillusioned, questioning the value of their education and its ability to pave the way for a secure future.

Anecdotes and Insights

I have seen this disconnect first-hand. Take teachers, for instance—many of whom feel they are merely going through the motions year after year. How do I bring something new to the classroom when the system doesn’t let me? – one teacher once shared with me. Or parents who, after investing everything they have in their child’s education, ask me, Why can’t my son still get a stable job?

Even consultants, like myself, grapple with this disconnect. I have created detailed recommendations, but have often wondered: Will any of this truly make any difference? Will a grade 8 child studying in a government school in Bangalore, be benefitted, at least a little by the hours I put into this project? “No., said a quiet voice from inside”.

Each stakeholder has a vital role to play, yet each one feels that they matter less and the other person is more important. Contrast this with 30 years ago: teachers, headmasters and even the person ringing the school bell rightly believed they were creating real value. Today, this shared sense of purpose is completely missing.

But, acknowledging these challenges is only the first step. What we really need is a collective, concerted effort and a mindset change to find solutions. Here is how each stakeholder can start moving towards a meaningful change in the system.

Takeaways for Each Stakeholder

• Teachers: When frustrations arise, remind yourself that no one else has your unique ability to connect with a diverse room full of children and leave them a little more knowledgeable each day. You matter more than you realize. Speak up for systems that let you teach authentically and creatively. You are invaluable. 

• Principals: Please know that you (and only you) are the bridge between vision and execution. Handling a bunch of students – is tough. And handling a bunch of teachers – is a different ballgame altogether. Involve teachers (and not just coordinators/ heads of departments) in decision-making. Operational resilience stems from empowering your team.

• Promoters: The system needs more people like you (investors, owners, promotors, entrepreneurs). Engage directly with educators and students to align your investments with ground realities.

• Governments: Smaller, adaptive solutions often pave the way for scalable success—foster partnerships instead of waiting for large-scale perfection. Because policies are only as effective as their execution.

• Consultants: Your insights can potentially drive real change, but only if they are grounded in reality. It is crucial to admit that most educators and government officials have an uncanny ability to differentiate between genuine insights and hollow recommendations.

• Parents: Feel assured that your involvement and sacrifices do matter in shaping your child’s future. You are doing ‘your’ best. Focus on fostering stability, curiosity, and discipline in your child. Avoid the constant pressure of chasing the ‘best’ school or solution—what matters most is a nurturing environment.

• Students: Education is your tool—don’t let it become your burden. Are you fully embracing the opportunities you have, however imperfect? Engage actively, express your challenges, and remember that the system is flawed but still full of potential to help you grow.

Final Thought

This article is my attempt to connect multiple perspectives, spark raw, honest conversations, and share my journey through this fragmented ecosystem. Education is failing not because of any particular group not doing much; it is failing because we are not listening to each other and we are not realising our potential in the system. Let’s change that. 

We matter. Let us start from there.