UK Education System vs Indian Education System

An Overview of the Key Differences of the Education system in UK and India.

Pizza or Pasta? Which one do you prefer? It’s always difficult to talk about preference when you appreciate both things in question. This can be said for a comparison of anything. 

There are many components which together constitute a good education system; however, three key aspects, namely respect, discipline and motivation will be explored in this discussion, which I am convinced are the foundations upon which a strong education lies.

I have experience at a Catholic school in India as a teacher and parent, at mainstream schools in the UK as a teacher and student and as a parent in the UK private education sector. I have observed that both systems share strikingly similar goals, which is to bring out the best in pupils. The difference however lies in, how this is achieved.

• In India, respect is a key element in achieving this goal and it is taught in the very early stages of school. The day in almost any school in India starts by greeting the class teacher with the salutation “good morning ma’am” or“good morning sir.” The teacher is welcomed by the whole class standing up as soon as the class teacher arrives. The pupils then simultaneously greet the teacher along with a slight bow of the upper part of the body as a gesture of respect. This comes naturally to pupils in India, even when a teacher is passing by in the school premises. This is because respect for teachers and their positive contribution in defining people is instilled in Indian pupils at a very young age, both at school and at home. It is with this respect, that pupils then receive and value the education in a positive manner. Interestingly, Indian teachers hold this level of respect for the principal or head of the school.
• Discipline is also a key factor. School in India started at 7.15am and finished at 1.30pm (summer timings). No pupil was allowed to be late except with a written note from a parent explaining the reason and which would almost certainly be verified at some point. The six day working week meant waking up around 5.30am everyday excluding Sundays. The school also had a zero tolerance approach towards indiscipline, where the teachers could employ their powers to punish a pupil for misbehaviour, which included non-compliance to rules regarding homework, schoolwork, uniform, unpolished shoes and even hairstyle. The punishment ranged from standing outside of the class to expulsion and even the use of corporal punishment, depending upon the severity of the misconduct. Of course, the punishment given was completely at the discretion of the teacher.
• Motivation: The day did not finish at 1.30pm for many pupils, including my children. After school, pupils in India attend tuition classes where they are re-taught the subject in question again are able to clear any doubts they may have about topics which they may find challenging or reinforcement of the topics for extra practice. On some occasions, especially during exams, pupils attend tuition classes before the start of school and some finishing as late as 10pm after school. The reason why children are able to do this on a daily basis is because of the high level of self-discipline which is partly driven by the motivation to succeed and partly by family expectations. High motivation levels are also a result of increasing competition for places in the best medical and engineering institutes which require students to successfully complete competitive exams. To put this into perspective only a handful out of tens of thousands get into the prestigious institutes based on their ranking in the exam.
• In the UK, teachers are also respected. Contrastingly, however, they are perceived as friendly guides and not viewed as uncompromising gurus as they are in India. Secondary school pupils have an informal relationship with their UK school teachers, quite similar to friends. This enables them to easily ask questions or raise concerns they have about certain topics. I know of some schools where the atmosphere is so relaxed that it’s okay to share jokes with teachers, for the teacher to talk about things which are not subject related and even where the teacher's requests are ignored. Students can sometimes feel at so much ease with their teachers and vice versa that the respect for them diminishes. The ability to approach teachers and engage in conversations about different topics with them can be beneficial for the student and teacher relationship but sometimes can run the risk of the teacher being taken for granted and reduce their level of respect. This would be almost unimaginable in India. I have found that teachers in the UK truly deserve respect but sometimes lack this because of their easy going nature and therefore sometimes taken advantage of.  They are nevertheless friendly, congenial, diligent and above all exceptional educators.
• Discipline is also very important in UK schools but the enforcement is very different. Instead, they aim at promoting good behaviour by inviting leading figures or motivational speakers to inspire students, reward students with certifications, provide peer support groups , encourage volunteering within the school and engagement with the local community through community driven projects. This empowers pupils to be a part of the school and wider community engaging in activities which would bring about a positive change in the student, developing them as responsible citizens and at the same time extending support to those needing assistance.
• Like India, there is no doubt that the competition for places at top tier universities is fierce in the UK too. Competitive courses at Russell Group Universities often require students to take an additional exam such as the BMAT, STEP, MAT, TSA or other tests. In addition students are required to achieve outstanding grades at A’ level, have relevant work experience, or at least demonstrate an interest in the subject outside of school and perform extraordinarily well at their university interview. The range of figures for some of the more popular courses could range from 7 applications to approximately 60, for one place!  Maybe not as competitive as India but when the population of India compared to the number of prestigious institutes is taken into consideration, those figures are hardly surprising.

While the strict regime in India can make school feel more like a military camp, where even being oblivious to certain norms and regulations could mean facing serious consequences; the Indian system seems to work, as it churns out sharp, high intellect and disciplined students. The Indian school environment may require students to behave mechanically almost as though being programmed to respect, to be organised and to be disciplined but they are trained to face the impending competition and achieve their dreams. On the other hand, the British education is no doubt exemplary. It empowers students to develop their curiosity, academic abilities and personal skills with confidence.

Recently, many new schools have opened up in India following the British style of teaching and introducing the UK curriculum, offering IGCSEs. The UK is also one of the most sought after destinations for higher education providing top class education and access to world class experts, with many universities in the top 10 of the QS World University Rankings.

Wherever your child is studying make the most of the resources and opportunities as both systems are winners in their own way.

If you liked this article feel free to share the link on facebook and twitter, and if you have comments to add, please do so below.