Education has always been more than a system-it is a promise. A promise to nurture curiosity, expand horizons, and equip individuals with the tools they need to thrive in their unique journeys. Yet, for many, this promise remains unfulfilled. For every student who finds a welcoming classroom, countless others encounter barriers that restrict their access, limit their opportunities, or silence their voices.
This book, Democratising Dreams: The Democratisation of Higher Education in India, is a reflection on how education, when aligned with the principles of democracy, can empower individuals to realise their potential and, in doing so, transform societies.
At the intersection of education and democracy lies an idea: that learning is not only about acquiring knowledge, but also about shaping individuals who can think critically, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. India's education system, steeped in a rich historical context, has undergone transformative changes, yet challenges persist. How do we ensure that education reflects the aspirations of a diverse population? How can it accommodate individual pathways while addressing collective needs? This book was written to explore these questions, drawing from both global perspectives and the unique socio-cultural realities of India. By examining the historical evolution of education, its philosophical foundations, and its current trajectory, this work seeks to contribute to an ongoing dialogue about the role of education in fostering equity, inclusion, and meaningful participation.
Education and democracy have a similar goal the fullest possible development of human capabilities. This shared outcome is based on the understanding that different individuals have different aspirations, values, and capabilities. It is the duty of democracy to ensure every human being has opportunities to work towards their dreams within the confines of civic society. The cornerstone of democratic education is in its ability to instill the capacity of good decision making to its students. Not only to instill facts, but rather to teach students the ability to learn, to discern and to grow. Within this process, the role of education moves away from being a system of information transfer, referred to as an 'empty vessel pedagogy' (Connell, 2019), but instead to a space that guides students on developing capabilities, and creating pathways for themselves.
The democratisation of education is, by no means, limited to the introduction of democratic forms into the management of the education services, the democratisation of the activities of educational establishments, or even the organisation of the educational process properly as is generally believed. The concept of democratisation is far broader for it assumes a free choice of educational options, the relatively easy access to any level of education, a smooth transition from one level of education to another, freedom with regard to creative endeavours for the teacher and the student, the easy granting of copyrights and patents, social guarantees, and much more in the way of measures that remove the shackles from education and liberate individual potentials of all those involved in education. (Bondarenko and Kozulin, 1991) This book seeks to explore the intersections between education and democracy, not merely as abstract concepts, but as lived experiences that shape individuals and our societies. We are not simply looking at education as a system for imparting knowledge, but as a transformative force capable of creating pathways for self-discovery, and the realisation of personal and collective dreams. Within this framework, education evolves from a mechanism of information transfer into a dynamic space for nurturing good decision-making, critical thinking, and the capacity to discern, learn, and grow.
Democratising education includes a broader array of freedoms for individuals’ choices in learning pathways, accessibility for all, the nurturing of creativity, and the dismantling of barriers that hinder individual potential. It is about breaking the chains of traditional, one-size-fits-all education and making room for flexibility, innovation, and personalised growth. In India, where socioeconomic disparities significantly influence educational outcomes, this democratisation is both urgent and transformative.
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