POLITICAL EDUCATION
Read the Passage carefully and answers the following Questions:-
Political education may be defined as the preparation of a citizen to take well informed, responsible and sustained action for participation in the national struggle for the realization of the socio-economic objectives of the country. The overriding socio-economic objectives in India are the abolition of poverty and the creation of a modern democratic, secular and socialist society in place of the present traditional, feudal, hierarchical and inegalitarian one.
Under British rule, the Congress leaders argued that political education was an important part of education and refused to accept the official view that education and politics should not be mixed with one another. But when they came to power in 1947 they almost adopted the British policy and began to talk of education being defiled by politics. ‘Hands off education’ was the call to political parties. But inspire of it, political infiltrate- tin into the educational system has greatly increased in the sense that different political parties vie with each other to capture the minds of teachers and students. The wise academicians wanted political support, without political interfere- once. What we have actually received is infinite political interference with little genuine political support. This interference with the educational system by political parties for their own ulterior motives is no political education at all; and with the all-round growth of elitism, it is hardly a matter for surprise that real political education within the school system (which really means the creation of a commitment to social transformation) has been even weaker than in the pre-independence period.
At the same time, the freedom struggle came to an end and the major non-formal agency of political education disappeared. The press could and did provide some political education. But it did not utilize the opportunity to the full and the stranglehold of vested interests continued to dominate it. The same can be said of political parties as well as of other institutions and agencies outside the school system which can be expected to provide political education. MI things considered, it appears that we have made no progress in genuine political education in the Post-independence period and have even sided back in some respects. For instance, the education system has become even more elite-oriented. Patriotism has become the first casualty. Gandhi gave us the courage to oppose the government when it was Wrong, in a disciplined fashion and on haste principles. he believed the means to be as important as the ends) and taught us to work among the poor people for mobilizing and organizing them. Today, we have even lost the courage to fight on basic Issues in a disciplined manner because agitation and anarchic politics for individual, group or party aggrandizement has become common. The education system of today continues to support the domination of the privileged groups and domestication of the underprivileged ones. The Situation will not change unless we take vigorous steps to provide genuine political education on an adequate scale. This is one of the major educational reforms we need; and if it is not carried out, mere linear expansion of the existing system of formal education will only support the status quo and hamper radical social transformation.
1. Which is the major pitfall of the present education system?
(a) It is mainly represented by the downtrodden masses.
(b) It perpetuates the domination of the privileged few.
(c) It is based on the British model of education.
(d) It is highly hierarchical and inegalitarian in nature.
(e) It does not inculcate values the students.
2. Which of the following is the true context of the passage?
(a) British rulers wanted the Indian education system to be influenced by politics.
(b) Academic institutions receive genuine political support.
(c) Real political education should aim at creating an elitist society.
(d) The Indian press has been under the influence of privileged groups.
(e) Our education system caters to the needs of the masses.
3. Which word is nearly the same in meaning as ‘defile’ as used in the passage?
(a) disparage (b) tarnish
(c) degenerate (d) criticize
(e) contaminate
4. What should be the ultimate objective of political education?
(a) To foster all-round growth of elitism
(b) lb bring quantitative change in the entire education system
(c) To create an egalitarian society
(d) To prepare students with high intellectual acumen
(e) To provide genuine support to educational institutions
5. According to the passage, what is the main contribution of Mahatma Gandhi to the field of political education?
(a) He spread ‘political literacy’ among the people through non-formal political education.
(b) He emphasized the need for keeping education free from political interference.
(c) He taught us agitation and anarchic politics in a disciplined manner.
(d) He made us believe that our political end should be compatible with the means.
6. What was the policy of the ruling party regarding political education immediately after independence?
(a) Education should keep itself clean of politics.
(b) Political education should be imparted through formal means.
(c) The press should take up the responsibility of imparting political education.
(d) Political education should not be devoid of socio-economic realities. Political parties should impart political education through formal means.
7. Which of the following statements is not true?
(a) The spirit of patriotism is on the verge of extinction.
(b) Political parties provide proper political education.
(c) We do not have the courage to fight on basic issues.
(d) Freedom struggle helped educate people politically.
(e) Political education is necessary for bringing about social change.
8. How has politics been related to educational institutions after independence?
(a) They got political support devoid of political interference.
(b) They got almost no political support as well as political interference.
(c) They got political support at the cost of political interference.
(d) There was substantial interference without political support.
(e) None of these
9. According to the passage, political education in the real sense should
(a) impede the process of creating an ideal society
(b) develop people who will be committed to bringing social change
(c) make political parties aware of the need of major educational reforms
(d) strengthen the traditional and feudal elements of the society
(e) develop patriotism among people of the privileged class
10. Which is the most opposite in meaning to the word ‘hamper’ as used in the passage?
(a) expedite (b) enhance
(c) foster (d) oppose
(e) initiate
ANSWERS:-
1. (d) 2. (b)
3. (d) 4. (d)
5. (d) 6. (c)
7. (e) 8. (b)
9. (d) 10. (c)
Download the above Passage in PDF (Printable)
