SOME IMPORTANT FACTS OF INCREDIBLE INDIAN EDUCATION

1. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to the world and 'charaka' is known as the father of Ayurveda. He developed this system some 2500 years back.
2. Takshila was the first university of world established in 700 B.C.
3. Nalanda University, built in 4 AD, was considered to be the honor of ancient Indian system of education as it was one of the best Universities of its time in the subcontinent.
4. Indian language Sanskrit is considered to be the mother of many modern languages of world.
5. Place value system was developed in India in 100 B.C.
6. India was the country, which invented number system.
7. Aryabhatta, the Indian scientist, invented digit zero.
8. Trigonometry, algebra and calculus studies were originated in India.

Distance Education

Indian Education system offers distance education to those who cannot join regular schools or colleges. National Institute of Open Schooling offers school education through distance learning. University Education is also offered thorough distance learning. Many college courses like in arts (history, economics, literature, Islamic studies), commerce (finance, banking, accounting) are offered by Indian universities. Apart from these, professional courses in management, mass media, para medical, engineering, law, travel and tourism are also part of distance education in India.

Academic Degree Course

This undergraduate course in India is of three years' duration. After completing this course student get a Bachelor's degree in the subject studied such as B.A., B.COM., B.SC........

University Education

This massive system of higher education in India constitutes of 342 universities (211 State, 18 Central, 95 deemed universities) 13 institutes of national importance, 17,000 colleges and 887 polytechnics. University Grant Commission (UGC), a national body, coordinates and looks after the maintenance of standard of university education in India. The university education in India starts with undergraduate courses. Depending upon the nature of course pursued its duration may vary from 3 - 6 yrs.

Secondary Education

The enrollment at secondary school throughout the country was close to 28 million in 1998-99. Efforts are being made to increase this figure through the implementation of proposed new educational strategies. Education system in India is making fast progress. The data of students' enrollment at primary and secondary level of school education testifies to it.

National Bal Bhavan

The National Bal Bhavan was opened with the aim of developing overall personalities of children of all strata of society irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and gender. It supplements school education by helping children to learn in play way and natural environment. Other important endeavors taken up by Indian government for the development of education in India includes the following:

• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
• Integrated Education for disabled children
• National Council of Educational Research and Training
• Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti

Operation Blackboard

It was started in 1987-88. The aim of this program is to improve human and physical resource availability in primary schools of India. According to this program every primary school should have at least two rooms, two teachers and essential teaching aids like blackboard, chalk, duster etc. It provided a foundation to the education system of INDIA which managed to enhance the literacy.