As Jonah Lehrer writes, talent and ability must be recognized at an early age and encouraged by showering such youth with attention and awards and providing them the necessary facilities and teaching to get them to excel. It is not only necessary to raise the test scores of the lowest performers but to also, ensure that those with talent are allowed to flourish. If such talented children are made to interact with other such children, they will then challenge and inspire each other to ever greater achievements. Talent and ability should be the measure of the student’s qualification to learn. Within reason, it should be ability and not only age that should be considered. Gifted children should be recognized and encouraged and, if practical, even put into separate classes where they can work with and even compete with other such children.

The capacity to leverage human capital through basic education and access to information and the ability to transact online is extraordinarily transformational in negating the effects of isolation and discrimination, and in increasing the potential for value creation and income generation.

It is this aspect of Education, aptitude recognition and skill development right up to Class XII that we now look at. A reasonable criterion for mass compulsory schooling is that it should enable the Students to understand and function effectively in the present Social, Cultural and Technological environment. Though ideally it would be desirable that all Children complete at least up to Class – XII, realistically many may not go beyond Class – X and some even drop out after Class – VII, and even they need to be able to function effectively in the present environment.

Many Children, even out of those falling in the average IQ range of 85-115 score, fall into the lower or even below average performance bracket, being unable to understand and work in an environment that asks them to face multi-tasking and multi-choices, and are thus unduly stressed out when they are unable to match their more capable classmates. Such individuals should be recognized at the earliest and routed into vocational training programs which do not need such multitasking capabilities and hence, which will enable them to function at their optimum in suitable jobs, thus allowing them too, to contribute positively to Society and hence, live a happier, less stressful and more satisfying life, with a sense of dignity. Happiness, after all, is derived more from healthy relationships with people who also, recognize and regard one’s contribution and is almost unrelated to money, once the basic needs are met.

The minimum level of competence and functional ability should be thus achieved at Class – VII level (i.e. at about 12 to 14 year’s age). The next at Class – X, 3 years later, hereon the path should allow for divergence into Vocational training for those who are not academically inclined, and finally at Class – XII, an additional 2 years later, aimed at preparation for College studies for developing the understanding and abilities of the student in their chosen fields as per their aptitudes and aspirations. Further studies will allow them to specialize and master their chosen subject in depth (See Public Policies – Making them Right & Reservations).

“Universities should be in the business of excellence, not social engineering. But to ensure that gifted individuals from all backgrounds get to university because of their brains and not their purses (or castes), there should be full public scholarships (and easy student loans) for university study. If politicians would stop playing politics with higher education and would create an environment in which the quality of provision is the overriding determinant, the current problems would turn into their own solution.” – A. C. Grayling

“Demanding retribution for historic wrongs (eg: Reservation) is not the answer… Talent is a Country’s most precious asset… A great people, like in Britain, can reduce themselves to mediocrity by leveling down.” – Lee Kuan Yew

“The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly (incompetency), is to fill the world with fools (incompetents).” – Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

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