Back to: Contemporary India and Education-Unit 1
The Kothari Commission was an ad hoc commission formed by the Government of India under the Chairmanship of Daulat Singh Kothari on 14 July 1964 and dissolved on 29 June 1966. He was the chairman of the University Grants Commissions (UGC) when the Kothari Commission was formed. The Commission consisted of twenty members who were experts in the education domain and based out of the UK, USA, Japan, Sweden, and France.
Objectives of the Kothari Commission (1964-66)
The main objectives of the Kothari Commission (1964-66) were as follows:
- Provision of guidelines and policies for education development in India.
- Evolution and finding of a general education pattern in India.
- Examination of every aspect and domain of the Indian education system.
Merits of the Kothari Commission
The merits of the Kothari Commission are as follows:
Free and Compulsory Education
The Kothari Commission put forward the need for free education for all children up to the age of 14. It emphasized the need for education up to a certain age.
Redefined Education
The Kothari Commission redefined education by restating its objectives and focusing on how education can influence and positively impact social and national issues and aspects.
Career-based Approach
The Kothari Commission focused on the need for education that makes individuals ready for the work front so that they can have a secure career.
Examined Educational Problems
The Commission examined and evaluated the educational problems existing in the Indian education system and strived to fix the issues.
Reasonable Pay for Teachers
The Commission put forward the need to offer reasonable and respectable pay for all the teachers belonging to all categories and subjects.
Demerits of the Kothari Commission
The demerits of the Kothari Commission are as follows:
Lack of Explanation
While the Commission puts forward the educational goals and problems being faced by the Indian education system, it offers a lack of solutions and explanations on how to achieve the goals.
Conflicting
Many believe that the commendations pointed out by the Commission on the medium of language are conflicting and controversial.
Inadequate Guidance
The Commission fails to provide adequate guidance and suggestions on the steps and tips that can transform the education system in India as envisioned by the Commission.
Huge Financial Investment
The Commission’s recommendations to transform the Indian education system required heavy financial investment which was not economically or socially feasible especially when the majority of the citizens of the country were below the poverty level.
Positions of Heads
The Commission did not touch upon the subject of the head of schools and left it undecided. This lack of emphasis and attention towards this domain is regarded as ignorant.
Despite all these demerits, the Kothari Commission cannot be considered to be a failure because, through its recommendations, the National Education Policy (1968) was formulated.
