Education is a very important process amongst many other social processes. Society cannot do without education. There is a close relationship between society and education. Education is for society.
According to the changing conditions of society changes must be brought into the field of education as well. Through education an attempt is made to develop the necessary skills in citizens in order to enable them to lead a successful and happy life.
When we think of new generations we have to be aware of their nature and total number. In understanding this, we have to consider the entire related factors. Under these factors may be included men, women, boys, girls, handicapped persons and other types of citizens.
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While we consider the problem of education, it is not possible to ignore the various factors that are parts of the population concerned. This is so because the very purpose of education is to help in the fulfillment of the basic needs and aspirations of the people.
Due to partition of India in 1947, about one-fourth population of the country went into Pakistan. Even then at that time (i.e. in 1947), the population of India remained about 33 or 34 crore. Now in 2013 the population in India has touched the figure of 112 crore or much more and by the middle of 21st century, it is likely to cross the figure of 160 crores.
This rise in population is sure to affect the nursery, primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and other institutions imparting technological, medical and other types of education. Hence we shall have to assess the available educational resources in term of various types of social requirements.
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Needless to add that we shall have to open new schools, colleges and universities of various types to-day we find that every year new educational centers of all types are being started and the crowds of aspirants to them are even thicker than ever before.
Consequently, the problem of discipline is troubling all related with education in any manner. There is no doubt that the rise of population has affected all the students, teachers, and curriculum and teaching methods.
The number of students in a school depends upon the size of population in the related area. If the population is very dense, then there will be a large number of students. Accordingly, the size of the school and the required educational facilities will have to be arranged.
The prestige of a school is generally assessed in terms of its size and educational facilities. If due to some reason a school does not attract a large number of students, then it is not possible for it to provide all the needed educational facilities.
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In a large number of students there are many students of various interests and intellectual capacities. Then it becomes necessary to provide the multifarious types of educational opportunities to cater to the needs of different students.
A huge population will necessarily require a number of schools in order to meet the requirement of developing children of various mental capacities, interests and aptitudes. Hence various types of schools will have to be organized.
In the management of these schools a number of persons will have to co-operate in getting things done there is likely to be some difference in the opinions of various persons regarding have certain things are to be done.
This difference, at times, may prove as bones of contention. If the population is not big, schools may be smaller and because of small number of organizers, the educational activities may be run more smoothly
The above discussion implies that because of big population and a number of schools for them, a number of teachers will have to be appointed. It will not be difficult to get these teachers from the nearby population.
But when the population is small teachers are appointed from distant places. The example of Andaman and Nocobar is before us. For schools in these islands teachers from various states of India are appointed, because the required number of teachers is not available in the islands having a thin population.
When teachers are drawn from big population it may be possible to select the more suitable ones from the available aspirants. Then big population has its impact on the kinds and choice of teachers.
We have observed above that huge population implies many schools, teachers and students. In this situation the various teachers may have to adopt different methods of teaching. In a class there are brilliant, normal and dull children.
The teacher has to adjust his methods of teaching according to the capacities and interests of students. Similarly, a number of subjects will have to be taught for catering to the varying interests of students. The various subjects may necessitate the adopting of different methods of teaching. Thus huge population has ultimately its impact on methods of teaching as well.
Needless to add that huge population will affect the nature of the curriculum also. In a big population there will be children of varying interests and various types of schools.
Thus we find that population has its impact on the various aspects of education. Some people are of the view that a big population affects education adversely. Due to big population, when people undergo economic hardships, the issue of education becomes secondary.
That is why education in a poor country is not well organized and its nature is also very poor. Then the percentage of literate persons is also very low. Thus from each and every angle the nature of population influences the kind of education.