A Look at the Academic Importance of Secondary School Education

Secondary education is the stage of education that comes after the primary section. The concepts taught in the primary section are built upon in the secondary section, which are the same concepts that the students will be learning in their higher studies. The immense importance of secondary education can be gauged from this fact. 

In India, secondary education covers 2-3 years of academic study, including 8th, 9th, 10th standard, from 13-16 years of age.

Secondary education in India lays the foundation for students to pursue their fields to begin a professional career. However, with the New Education Policy that has been introduced by the central government, secondary school education will see wide-reaching changes in the future. 

 

Secondary School Education In India – An Overview 

In India, the education system is classified into two levels – primary and secondary.  

Education in India is mainly classified into two levels – primary and secondary. Top schools in Noida impart teaching on the basics of education, laying the foundation on which secondary education is built. 

Apart from the history and workings of the society, the students are also given proper mental sustenance to ease them in their growing stage. 

On the other hand, secondary education gives the students a much more detailed understanding of the workings of society and the changes that are taking place in the various disciplines simultaneously. 

The secondary school helps the children become aware of the various fields they can choose in a three-tier system: commerce/ science/ arts. This arrangement was introduced to suit the trends of the 20th century. With the world entering the 21st century, the education system needed to bring itself on par with the requirements of the new era. 

Though there were changes brought about, it was limited and within the purview of streams and not the education system. With the New Education Policy, the entire model was considered for debate, ushering in new reformations that were suggested, thereby leading to scrapping the old system. 

Whereas the old education system put restrictions on the young child in 10th and 12th to reason with the subjects he was learning, the new model of education aims to do the opposite – allowing the students to use their capacity for reasoning. 

 

The Importance Of Secondary School Education

Secondary school education is the bridge between primary and higher education, which has a very tactical position in the country’s education system. Secondary school education is important for the following reasons:

– Training students to be good citizens contributes to the social and economic development of the nation and upholds the democratic spirit of India.

– To improve the practical competence of the students.

– To give the students an understanding of the important branches of knowledge.

– To improve the rational thinking and practical skills of students.

The plan to reform secondary education was put into motion right after the country attained Independence and was led by the first prime minister of India, Pandit Nehru. It aimed to develop India’s infrastructure, quantity, and quality of secondary education. 

The focus of the committees formed for the purpose was to attain a shift from the colonial legacy of rote-learning to one of overall development. Though there were some gains, the colonial concept of rote-learning remained in the system.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) was officially formed in 1962, and the sole purpose was to provide a common standard and platform for every student in the country. Initially having only 302 affiliated schools in 1962, CBSE is today affiliated with 18000+ schools in the country. 

CBSE 11th class was initially started to fulfil the educational needs of those students whose parents were employed in the different services of the Central Government and who had to move around the country frequently due to transferable jobs. 

 

What Is The Difference Between Cbse And Cbse International Board?

In order to cater to the Indian students staying overseas, the CBSE started an international curriculum in 2010, which is referred to as CBSE International or CBSE-i. Though affiliation is the same for both, CBSE-i focuses more on Languages, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, social sciences, science and mathematics. The students of CBSE-i have the option of electives and core subjects, while CBSE consists of just three streams. i.e., science, commerce and humanities. CBSE evaluation is done through board exams, while CBSE-i has a grading system based on practical work done. CBSE is from grade I to grade XII, while CBSE International is till grade XI.

 

Closing Notes

Secondary education plays an important part in the education system of India. It connects primary education with higher education, and it is when a student has the profession they would like to pursue as a career.

Secondary Education in India aims for the overall development of the student while also building the understanding of the various vital branches of knowledge.

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