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Comment by melling | Hacker News Reader

I still think the opportunity is there. I've seen several specials on the IITs, and they are a very well respected institution both in and out India. In addition, I think people generally realize that the educational system should offer more. I'll offer up Aamir Khan and friends as anecdotal evidence. :-) Great movie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Idiots

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I actually hated that movie. While the message that 'One should pursue his/her own dream' was neat, the portrayal was bad. It showed that Engineering education in India sucks largely because of orthodox bad teachers who lack vision. It portrayed it is alright to play bad hurtful pranks (though a joke, but unfortunately immaturity is still prevails in college students). The professors were shown in such bad light and without any emotions that even suicides don't make them change their facial expressions. They really took it to the extreme, it was sad because it might have demotivated some people.

Definitely the portrayal may have been too aggressive, but that is the reality of the Indian Education system.

Students here are driven by a lot of social pressures to get into an IIT just with a mindset that this wil l help them get high paying job helping them to lead a cushy life.

> It showed that Engineering education in India sucks largely because of orthodox bad teachers who lack vision.

And pray, you being from IIT what makes you qualified enough to show this statement is wrong? I'm not saying the portrayal of the movie was correct but to make a sweeping generalizable statement above ; one needs to be part of a setup other than IITs.

I didn't make that generalization - I was commenting on the sweeping generalization that was made in the movie. I know some very great teachers who do not teach at IITs. My parents are college professors and at least 4 aunts/uncles of mine are also in teaching profession. While I agree that a lot of educational institutes in India suffer from under-qualified or uninspired teaching - I do not believe that it is the core reason of all that is wrong with the education system. My being an IITian actually contributes less to this belief of mine than my school teachers in a small town. It did get reinforced here but I have always had some great teachers.

This is based on my personal experience and those of a few friends at non-IIT colleges.

I know some great teachers too. But, the majority of the teachers are just wasting their time as well as those of their students. There is no love for the subject they teach.

"While I agree that a lot of educational institutes in India suffer from under-qualified or uninspired teaching - I do not believe that it is the core reason of all that is wrong with the education system."

Finding a core reason for the maladies of Indian educational system is a never-ending exercise. But, a lot of problems will be solved if we have more inspired teachers.

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