According to Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, “Science is a perception of the world around us. Science is a place where what you find in nature pleases you.”
Science education is a separate field within education. It is defined as the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
Science education is getting more popular among students in India. Students are more interested to engage themselves in various fields related to Science after Class 12. They want to see themselves successful in different fields of science.
Importance of Science Education in Indian Schools
Science education is one of the significant branches of Indian school education. Children are more familiar with this branch of education. They know how science is applicable in each and every field. Science and technology work together and are related to every aspect of our lives.
- Science education helps students to know things in a logical way. They understand the things relating theory with practical work.
- It creates curiosity among students and motivated them to explore new things.
- Science Education brings a lot of career opportunities for students.
- It widens their horizon of knowledge.
Science Education
After class 10th, many students opt for science education. Because they know how science can impact their lives. In class 11th and 12th, they learn Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Math as Science subjects. There are a lot of career options to choose from, the science field.
Career Options
The following are the most rewarding career options in the field of science:
- Agriculture
- Astronomy
- Bioinformatics
- Earth Science
- Environmental Science
- Forensic Science
- Food Technology & Processing
- Geology
- Forest Ranger
- Horticulture
Wondering Which Course to opt for after Class12?
Don’t worry. There are a huge number of courses available, like B.Sc. Maths, B.Sc. Statistics, B.Sc. Economics, B.Pharma, B.Sc. Biomedical Science etc. You can select one in which you have an interest.
Science education is mandatory in all schools of India up to class 10th. After that, it’s optional. If students wish to study science and want a career in any selected field of science, they can continue with it. Otherwise, they can choose any other streams like Arts or Commerce. In schools, what they study gives them a broad idea of what science is all about. Science subjects taught in schools help children to understand the world around them. It creates curiosity among children to know more, to research more, and to explore the world around them.
Students face two problems while pursuing science at higher secondary level. They are:
1) socio-economic inequality
2) Fixed Destination
Children from rich families get enough facilities, like access to private tuition and high-quality materials. They also get admitted to top-notch colleges where teachers are highly experienced and qualified enough to teach. Whereas, children from poor or less advantaged families can’t afford to take science at the higher secondary level.
The second problem is the fixed destination of the Indian middle class. Most of the students who pursue science after 10th grade have one fixed objective, i.e., either medical or engineering. They don’t want to explore careers beyond these two. This may be due to a lack of information about other fields in science or they may have a fear of failure or they simply want to do it because others are doing good in medical and engineering fields.
National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020)
Under NEP 2020 emphasis will be given to conceptual understanding, rather than rote learning and learning-for-exams. Students will be encouraged to be more creative. NEP 2020 focuses on changing the curricular and theoretical structure of school education. It is going to be more practical in order to keep the students engaged with their lessons. Teachers are encouraged to take initiatives on how to make lessons more experimental. Under NEP 2020, there is no strict separation between arts and sciences. This is a great step taken by the government of India. This will reduce the height of walls that is standing as a barrier between different areas of learning.
Many students who study Arts feel inferior as compared to Science students. They think of Science as a rich stream and pursued by those who have money. But it’s not that. All subjects have their unique importance. We should select a subject as per our own interest.
The phase-wise implementation of National Education Policy 2020, will be done by various states from the current academic year 2021-22.
“Everything is theoretically impossible until it is done.”- Robert A. Heinlein
So, all changes need to be implemented soon to provide a practical experience to students. No doubt, science plays an important role in our lives. Steps should be taken by the govt., teachers, and parents to generate curiosity among students to know various subjects in Science and the available career options in it.