Published Date : 28/09/2025
Once, in an exam, I got the least marks in a question that I thought I answered the best. The topic was dear to me, and I had prepared two pages of notes after going through more than a hundred pages. One friend of mine came to me on the examination eve and asked for help as the topic was vast and not much time was left. I gave him my notes, assuring him of decent marks. The friend got more marks than I got!
In the same paper, I got the highest marks in a question that I had no idea about. I wrote rubbish with jargon, and the teacher wrote a remark along with full marks, “Very well explained.” I wondered for days about the marking and evaluation schemes of our education system. If marks are awarded on a random basis, what is the point of working hard? Of course, the evaluation is subjective, more so in social sciences. But I believe there must be a line between subjectivity and randomness.
Evaluating somebody’s performance is a multi-dimensional task, but our credentialism-dominated system does not do so. In the words of Stephen Hawking, “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” In today’s times, we need to differentiate the parameters to judge human and machines. Accuracy or efficiency is not the only criterion to judge a human. We judge machines based on such criteria.
Such questions have become more important than ever in the wake of artificial intelligence. Well, innovation is the only thing that can separate us from the technology. But our education system is not ready to deal with the AI onslaught. The system, which deems memory as merit and doing mundane tasks as skills, is bound to scare us citing layoffs. With AI becoming more capable day by day, we surely must catch up.
Technology is like a horse. If you race against it, you lose; if you ride it, you win. This is not to say that dependence on technology is something to be proud of. Technology is not a one-stop solution for all our problems. The purpose of technology is to enable us, not to disable us further. But the panic caused by AI is partially to be blamed upon the education system as well. Individuals must not be blamed for the systemic failures and vice versa.
Humans were never the strongest but still survived against the strongest predators because we innovated. Today, AI has raised several important questions. One of them is, how can our education system help us become the masters and not slaves of our times?
Q: What is the main issue with the current education system?
A: The main issue with the current education system is its heavy reliance on credentialism and memorization, which fails to prepare students for the dynamic and AI-driven future.
Q: How does AI challenge the traditional education system?
A: AI challenges the traditional education system by highlighting the need for innovation and adaptability, as the system's focus on memory and mundane tasks is not sufficient to keep up with technological advancements.
Q: What is the role of innovation in the context of AI?
A: Innovation is crucial in the context of AI as it allows humans to stay ahead of technology and adapt to changes, rather than being overtaken by it.
Q: How can the education system better prepare students for the AI era?
A: The education system can better prepare students for the AI era by focusing on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation skills, rather than just memorization and routine tasks.
Q: What is the analogy used to describe the relationship between humans and technology?
A: The relationship between humans and technology is described using the analogy of a horse: if you race against it, you lose; if you ride it, you win. This emphasizes the importance of using technology to our advantage rather than being overwhelmed by it.