The Relationship Between Education and Family Values in India
Family is an important part of nearly every culture around the world. In the Indian cultural context, it assumes great significance. Two key family values in India are loyalty and interdependence. Others include dedication, hard work, and resilience. These are essential in India’s collectivist society, as the goals or desires of a group—like a family—take precedence over any one individual’s. One example of this is parents making sacrifices to ensure their children have a better future.
This is why many families in India often stress the need for education, even if that education replaces other goals and desires of individuals in the family. In this article, we’ll explore the relationship between education and family values in India.
Family Involvement in Education in India
Education is a beacon of hope for many families, as it is their best crack at achieving a better standing in life. This is especially true in India, where 51% of all parents report that their highest hope for their children is to have a successful career. In order to accomplish that, they must receive both quality and a higher level of education.
In fact, there are around 600 million Indians under the age of 25, with nearly 250 million of those being students in the Indian school system. That doesn’t account for all of the Indian students studying internationally, either. So, why exactly has education become connected to family values in India?
There is a strong connection between education and social mobility in India, as receiving an education is one of the best ways to avoid poverty but also to advance oneself to a better life. For those marginalized, education offers another layer of social mobility. Because of this, an education for their children is a crucial desire for many Indian parents. This not only creates a better life for their children but also for future generations moving forward, strengthening the family and ensuring that they will always be provided for.
Many of the family values in India come together in receiving an education. The educated person uses their financial empowerment through new employment opportunities, to further not just themselves but the whole family, thus continuing to nurture the values of interdependence, loyalty, hard work, resilience, and dedication, which then allows the best chance for the family values to be carried forward to future generations.
At Tiyara, we seek to provide educational opportunities that will make life-changing differences for under-resourced young women and men in India, equipping them to pursue professional and skilled employment. Some of these young women and men have had their lives changed by crime, others’ families are often discriminated against, and some are from indigenous populations.
You can help make a difference by providing technology for our students, other education-related costs, or by putting a deserving young person through college!