MPSC State Service 2020 · CSAT · Question 36 of 77

Passage: Read the following passage and answer the questions. Political education may be defined as the preparation of a citizen to take well informed, responsible and sustainable 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 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 different to talk of education being defiled by politics. ‘Hands off education’ was the call to political parties. But inspite of it, political infiltration 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 interference. 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. Most 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 based on 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 privilege groups and domestication of 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. Which of the following statement is not true?

Reading Comprehension

1. AFreedom struggle helped to educate people politically.
2. BPolitical parties provide proper political education.Correct
3. CPolitical education is necessary for bringing about social change.
4. DPolitical education is aim and means of individual.