Meaning of Secondary Education System:
Secondary education occupies a very strategic position in the educational pattern of
the country. It is the link between primary education and higher education. Primary
education is intended to provide minimum requirements for survival where as
secondary education enables an individual to become a full members of the
complicated society.
After independence our country achieved a great remarkable changes in the field of
secondary education. The Government of India, Soon after attainment of
independence appointed a number of committees and commissions to review the
system of secondary education.
The various committees recommended certain suggestions for the improvement of
secondary education both quantitatively and qualitatively. Tara hand Committee in
1948 suggested the multipurpose type of secondary schools without discouraging the
unipurpose schools.
The university education commission 1948-49 which was appointed under the
chairmanship of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, remarked that “our secondary education
remains the weakest link in our educational machinery and needs urgent reform.”
The landmark in the reconstruction of India’s secondary education is the secondary
education commission report 1952-53.
The commission was appointed by the Government of India, on September 23, 1952,
under the chairmanship of Dr. A. Lakshmanswami Mudaliar to review the existing
defects in the secondary education and made some suggestions regarding the
improvement of secondary education.
Aims and Objectives of Secondary Education:
Various committees have given their valuable suggestions regarding the aim and
objectives of secondary education after independence.
They are as follows:
Aims of secondary education according to secondary education
commission (1952-53):
1. To bring all round development among the learner.
2. To train the young mass of the country to be good citizens who will be competent
to play their part effectively in the social and economic development of the country.
3. To promote social virtues, intellectual development and practical skills of students.
4. To Train character of students to enable them to participate creatively as citizens
in the emerging social order.
5. To improve practical and vocational efficiency of the students.
6. To develop a scientific attitude of mind to think objectively.
7. To inculcate the qualities necessary for living harmoniously and efficiently with
one’s fellowmen.
8. To develop artistic and cultural interests which are essential for self-expression
and development of all round personality of pupils.
Objectives of secondary education according to Indian Education
Commission (1964-66):
1. The main objective is “national reconstruction by raising the standard of living of
our people.”
2. The education is to meet the needs of a modernizing democratic and socialistic
society.
3. It would promote productivity.
4. It would strengthen social and national integration.
5. It would consolidate democracy to adopt as a way of life.
6. It would accelerate the pace of modernization.
7. It would enable students to participate in productive work in school, home,
workshop, form and factory etc.
8. It would develop social, moral and spiritual values among the students.
As per the recommendations of Indian Education commission, education was
reconstructed for the economic and cultural development of the country. Importance
was given on qualitative development of secondary education by relating education
with the real life situations of the students. The NPE, 1986 and the Revised NPE,
1992 have discussed about the aims and objectives of education in general out of
which some are relevant to secondary education.
They are as follows:
1. Secondary education is meant essentially for all round development, material and
spiritual.
2. It develops manpower for different levels of the economy, ultimately promoting
self-reliance.
3. It develops a sense of good citizenship among the learners.
4. It would inculcate democratic values, rights and duties in a democratic set up
among the students.
5. It would strengthen the “whole world as one family” view and motivates, the
younger generations for international co-operation and peaceful co-existence.
6. It should provide equality of educational opportunity for all not only in access, but
also in the conditions for success.
7. It would inculcate in children scientific temper and independence of mind.
8. Minimum Levels of Learning (MLL) would be laid down and steps need by taken
for fostering among students an understanding of a diverse cultural and social
systems of the people.
9. It enables to develop physical health through physical education among the
students.
Besides these, the secondary education should be based on a national curricular
frame work which contains a common core along with other components that are
flexible.
The common core would include the history of India’s Freedom Movement the
constitutional obligations and the other content essential to nature and national
identity. Promotion of vocational efficiency should form an integral past of secondary
education.
