Beyond instrumentality

Abstract

Avijit Pathak makes a passionate plea for evolving an educational system which seeks to strike a balance between creative and critical pursuit of knowledge and acquisition of the necessary skills which would make learners useful members of society. But what is happening is the systematic neglect of critical aspects of education that would enhance our ability to think and the reduction of education to a mere skill-acquiring enterprise. Unless the empowering and emancipatory potential of education is properly recognized, education will lose its relevance. The very spirit of higher education will be lost. One needs to be alert to attempts which seek to sabotage the higher principles of education. The growth of the consumer industry has only succeeded in commodifying education.