Some years back, while I was traveling by bus, I remember seeing an unusual T-shirt that said I was born smart but education ruined my life.

Education helps and the only time you are ruined is when you refuse to learn. I had the opportunity to experience both sides of the divide, that is American and Indian education system, it is difficult to describe the Indian education system because everyone has their own ideas and there is no formula that makes for a successful education.

The Indian education system does have its advantages and disadvantages:

A) Firstly, education is an investment in ourselves, this is where Indian education system is useful because we learn a lot of information that we need to succeed as adults.

Unfortunately, there is one major drawback with this from of education, the focus is more on how good your memory is and not on how much of the subject matter you understood.

B) Some of the most successful people in the world are former students of Indian education, you will find them in all the leading companies of the world.

Yet, millions of students prefer foreign universities to complete their education, the question is how many of these students are successful after completing their studies in foreign universities.

C) Nowadays, there are many education boards in the country, I studied in a CBSE school and the quality of education is world class, in fact whatever I am today is because of my early years of learning.

The sad part is that despite the fact that the Indian education system is world class, our certification is not considered authentic, we have to give multiple exams such as TOEFL and SAT to prove that we are capable of studying in foreign universities.

D) The major problem with the Indian education system is reservation, these quotas were made with good intentions and to help those who are denied the right to education but in the process, it is not merit based which affects the best and the brightest.

There are some things which bring down the Indian education system such as bribery, corruption, nepotism, playing favourites etc., which keeps education out of reach of those who need it most.

E) The Indian education system is most suitable for the primary and secondary education but when it comes to higher education it is the United States, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom, in fact if you check the rankings, there are very few Indian universities listed as the best for higher education.

When I finished HSC, I was undecided on which university or college to join, I attended many education fairs to learn more about foreign universities and it was an unbelievable experience.

 There were a wide variety of courses to select from an it was the first time that I heard of the grade point average and everything that you did in class and how much you participated was taken into consideration.

Finally, the Indian education system is vital to the growth of the country, we need to make changes that will create a positive mindset and enable the youth to make a positive contribution in the long run.