Getting a good education in India is still hard for many children. Some schools don’t have enough teachers or even basic things like clean drinking water, fans or toilets. Many students also finish school without the skills they need for jobs. This shows that the education system needs much bigger changes.

Experts pointed this out a long time ago. In 1949, a group of famous education thinkers said that schools and colleges should have the freedom to decide how they teach, instead of being controlled too much by the government. They also warned that learning practical skills, like making or fixing things, is just as important as studying books.

Today, governments often change education policies, which creates confusion. Debates about language are one example. But there are even bigger problems. Practical skills are treated as less important than academic subjects. Some schools still lack basic facilities. And while more children are going to school than before, many are not learning to read, write or do maths well.

Giving students more exams or tablets will not fix these problems. Children learn best when lessons connect to real life, with experiments, projects and problem-solving instead of memorising facts. For that to happen, teachers need better training and support.

Because schools often fail to prepare students, many families spend lots of money on coaching classes, especially for engineering and medical entrance exams. This has made coaching centres almost as important as schools, which is not how education should work.

Every child should be able to get a great education in a good school, with skilled teachers and proper facilities. They should not have to protest just to get clean water or be forced to jump from one exam to the next. Learning should help children think, ask questions and prepare for life—not just pass tests.

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