Amita Chudgar, an assistant professor of educational administration in the MSU College of Education, recently published a column in Mint, a partner publication of the Wall Street Journal. She expresses the need for art education in India, noting that even within India’s most affluent regions, students do not receive enough art education.
“Nearly 20 percent of students in these ‘top schools’ report that they do not get any opportunities to participate in dance, dramatics or debates,” Chudgar wrote. “The principals of these schools agree that arts and sports are important for building confidence, self-control, solidarity and teamwork, but when it comes to execution, the attention given to these activities leaves a lot to be desired.”
Chudgar also stressed the importance of parental involvement in a child’s education, and how it is worrisome that approximately 35 percent of mothers in India lack basic reading and writing skills. While Chudgar believes that most parents are keen on providing the very best for their children, she points out that most parents are not well-resourced and well-equipped to fulfill their dreams for their children.
But Chudgar says that there is still hope for education in India.
“The good news is that we are increasingly committed as a nation to define, measure and understand what teaching and learning look like in our schools,” she wrote. “We have taken that first step: the road ahead is long, but the journey has begun.