How can I pursue a career in the education sector in India as someone who really wants to bring some change to our school education system?

You do not sound naive at all and you should not care if people think that you do since yours is a noble endeavour "to bring some change in our education system" as you say. More power to you and to people like you. http://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/about-us would the right place for you. Azim Premji University's mission is to create outstanding and effective programmes of learning, research and advocacy in education, development and allied fields. In this endeavour, the University will, Establish programmes in education and development that prepare teachers, researchers, and administrators of great competence, leadership and integrity Expand the frontiers of knowledge in education and development through research and serve as a national resource centre Create knowledge resources for continuing education that will improve the quality of existing education systems in India Contribute to change in policy and practice in the Indian education and development sectors through advocacy and public communication Guiding Principles Two key principles guide the process of the University’s continued evolution. Firstly, the University exists to make significant contributions to education in a manner consistent with social justice, equity, humane values and sustainability within the framework of a secular and democratic Indian polity. This commitment to a specific value orientation is not to be interpreted as a narrowly utilitarian view of the University and is at all times, consistent with academic and institutional autonomy and excellence. Secondly, the University, though constituted as an independent entity, is organizationally continuous with Azim Premji Foundation and integral to its vision. This intimate and unusual linking of the two organizations creates valuable synergies. The close working of the University with the Foundation and its practice informs all learning and research programmes. The Foundation and its teams in turn gain from the interaction with a vibrant academic community that contributes rigour and focus to the field of practice.   Goals Azim Premji University is committed to developing outstanding programmes of learning, research and advocacy in education and allied development domains. The objectives of the University are: To develop outstanding, creative and socially committed professionals for the education and development sectors in India. To significantly invest in research to expand the frontiers of knowledge in education and development and continuously stretch the boundaries of our thought and action. To contribute to strengthening existing professionals in the education and development domains by creating high quality continuing education programmes and learning content. To significantly impact practice in the areas of education and development in the country. To serve as a national education and development resource centre. To present an authentic alternative voice for educational and social change in India.   Educational Philosophy The educational philosophy behind the Azim Premji University is based on three key principles. Firstly, the University nurtures and encourages exemplary standards of teaching, learning and research. The learning programmes of the University therefore focus on building depth of understanding, capacity for inter-disciplinary learning and research, analytical skills, critical thinking and communication in an atmosphere of academic freedom and integrity. Secondly, the University’s agenda continues to be guided by its larger purpose of social change. Hence the University strives to develop a deep understanding of the social impact of education and its role in creating awareness of the wider political and ethical issues in debates on development and policy.    A third and equally central concern of the University’s educational philosophy is with the learning individual. Faculty and students are both part of this community of learners. One of the central preoccupations of education is its own impact on attitudes, values and the capacity for introspection and self-understanding. This capacity is not a product only of intellectual learning but also a result of the development of sensitivity and emotional maturity that sparks a life-long process of inquiry. I wish you the best in your pursuit and we may just end up having an incrementally better education system because of your contribution.

First of all you have to understand education system is part of a larger system. There are many factors outside the eduaction system that affects it's health & vitality. Our business environment (and hence employment generation), our judicial system (ability of government to enforce contract), economic policies (we choose socialism, social is dead but institutions & people who support are running our economic lives) & political environment ( our leader fighting lost causes like which language to teach in public school, people electing politicians  basis of caste, religion & socialist promised) play a huge role in shaping our education system. You cannot influence very small section of whole education system. So you have to be make educated choice where you want to start and whom you want to influence. According to my limited understanding an education system serve two main function in society: a) help in generating  wealth by providing relevant training to students & generating knowledge b) help in maintaining personal and social harmony by generating awareness about diverse individuals and institutions and their relationship. A functional education help local industry to remain competitive through skill upgrade & knowledge creation. Indian education system fails in both accounts. Our engineers and MBA are mostly unemployable or require huge investment in training making our industry unproductive & hence lowering their global competitiveness. Higher education in India laso broken. Universities neither have funds nor motivation to generate knowledge. Governance in education institution on all level is politicized. VC selection is owned by political parties. Our IP laws are compromised. We do not produce enough Phds. In a world where SW is eating everything we produced few hundred PHd out of which best are poached by Multinational. As a result our entrepreneurs are either either engaged in commodity businesses (leaving whole generation to government) or low skill services business (will employment generation). This creates a vicious circle where industry cannot to move up the value chain as they lack right talent & working environment and an compromised  education system continue churning unemployable graduates. So how to fix this?  As I said there are many players with different interests and you cannot do perform all functions. We can pick something we find most inspired or  capable of doing. So what we need build a healthy education system? a) Political leadership willing to invest in future instead of repeating past mistakes . b) Policy makers who can streamline business & legal environment. We need better IP laws ( if you can download LOTR online do anyone have any motivation to make a movie), labor laws, functional judicial system. c) Think tank who can engage & educate people about economic & policy choices in their preferred language.Our politician are not elected by me and you but by people living in villages mis-educated by people like Mulaayam & lalu. we need people to educate them about  consequences of reservations, role of govt in their lifes, about their rights and role as citizens. d) We need next generation educator & administrator who can build new business models and challenge rent seekers in eduaction system. We need able and passionate teachers that inspire student and unlock their creativity. e) We need knowledge creators helping our understanding of society, human nature and physical world. Image if we can build more efficient way converting & strong solar energy. It will transform our manufacturing industry and hence generating million of jobs.   f) We need entrepreneurs who can unlock untapped human capital our nation have and create wealth by delivery world class products. Good education system is a shared goal and we need all these players to work together to make it function smoothly. Good thing is we have lot of opportunities in all areas to make an impact. It up to you to find right fit.

Joining ''Teach for India'' could be a good start, its for two years and one gets to meet dedicated people working towards the same cause. Give their site a hit. Wish you luck.

Become a full time teacher. A good teacher can definitely make a great impact on the society. Don’t be the conventional teacher who is more or less bound to teach one subject. Try to be a mentor more than just a teacher.

Pray tell me how an I.A.S officer can effect policy changes in the education system.Don't even get me started about the NGOs. Higher Education in India is primarily governed and administered by the U.G.C. Also,you can't just walk into the education sector,you need to crack the NET exam to begin with and impress an interview panel,before you can think about teaching.Its a long drawn out process. I've been through the rigmarole so I know what its like.Good Luck

I am no expert, A2A and hence the answer. The smallest and the most important step towards changing anything for the better is to get involved in the it. In this case it is the school education system, which certainly has room for improvement, so I guess you need to become a stakeholder in that system. Become a part as soon as possible, may be start as a teacher. Being a part is being in power. From my experience I can safely conclude that one doesn't need to be in a supposed to powerful position like the principal or the head of the institute to bring reform. Anyone, anywhere is capable enough to make things better. "Power resides only where men believe it resides" - GoT author R.R. Martin. Going Back to the Basics. I believe that if someone wants to radically change the education system here in India, should first do some reading and research about the ancient Indian methods of imparting knowledge. Those methods made some great scientists, innovators and philosophers and still, in my opinion haven't lost relevance. The ancient principles with modern technology could result in miracles. Keep working. There are a few people who are willing to fight such battles. It is going to be tough. Systems have inertia and most people find status quo convenient. Persist when it is hard and you really want to give up. Set an example When you do your work well, bring changes, students will appreciate, you'll inspire a few around you to be like you. And in this way the number change seekers and fighters will increase. Thank you :)

Since you are currently working as an engineer , you would probably be aware of huge difference between what goes on in the industry and whats being taught in engineering colleges. In fact Infosys chief Narayana Murthy criticized our engineering students being not industry ready.  My suggestion would be for you to start an institution to bridge this gap, teach engineering students what you have learnt from the industry, also make some capital for yourselves. Thanks for the A2A

Problems and solutions related to EDUCATION Donations Ke Side Effects  07:09 Engaging Students in Learning - David Helfand Fostering Youth Innovation - Sheldon Levy TEDxRyersonU - Sheldon Levy - Universities as City Builders A full education, beyond the degree: David Helfand at TEDxWestVancouverED  Aarakshan - No Other Business Bigger Than Education  00:17  Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?  20:04 Shri Dayalchand Soni, a Gandhian thinker, writer, activist, educator, and owner of a flour grinding mill in Udaipur. He has some very beautiful stories and radical ideas on education. (In Hindi) http://vimeo.com/18230123 Narayan Desai of Gujarat (he grew up with Mahatma Gandhi) shares his thoughts and experiences on Nai Taleem (in Hindi) http://vimeo.com/17734251 Peer 2 Peer University - Learning by everyone, for everyone: Philipp Schmidt at TEDxBeaconStreet Daphne Koller: What we're learning from online education  20:41 Anant Agarwal: Why massively open online courses (still) matter  15:20 Can you get an MIT education for $2,000?: Scott Young at TEDxEastsidePrep  11:49 Creating learning ecosystems instead of learning cages:Vidhi jain at TEDxLBSIM TEDxSPSU - Reva Dandage - Adventures of learning in a real faltu University Is Our Education System Creating Well Trained Photocopying Robots? http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2014/05/education-2-0-urgent-need-reforms/ Peter Norvig The 100,000-student classroom  06:12 How The Indian Education System Is Dumbing Us Down! http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2014/02/indian-education-system-dumbing-us/ Our Education System Needs Revolutionary Reforms, Here’s Where to Start With! http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2014/01/education-system-needs-revolutionary-reforms-heres-start/ Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education  20:28 The Uncomfortable Truth About The Indian Education System That Statistics Wouldn’t Show! http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2014/01/uncomfortable-truth-indian-education-system-statistics-wouldnt-show/ Can Quotas Really Improve India’s Education System? http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2012/08/can-quotas-really-improve-indias-education-system/ Arvind Gupta: Turning trash into toys for learning  15:31 Education System And Student Suicide Rate: Stop The Blame Game http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2012/07/education-system-and-student-suicide-rate-stop-the-blame-game/ Shukla Bose: Teaching one child at a time  16:54 Understanding The Current Education System Properly, And Why Change Is Needed http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2012/06/understanding-the-current-education-system-properly-and-why-change-is-needed/ 12 Indian Youth On Changes Required In The Indian Education System http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2012/03/12-indian-youth-on-changes-required-in-the-indian-education-system/ What are biggest memes on Indian education? Kiran Sethi - Kids, take charge  09:33 What is wrong with the Indian education system? Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion  07:49 I am 25 and I've just found my passion in life. Am I too late? Bilal Ghalib: The hackerspace revolution  10:24 I am 24 years old and just started learning coding. I want to be a programmer. Am I too late in the game?

I suggest you pack your bags go to Delhi (or New Delhi) and take some classes for the MP's. Teach them to behave, learn meaning of the words like Respect, Empathy, Compassionate, Patriotism etc. Give lessons on Economy a small town chai-wala economy will do. That will certainly help to bring change in the system. If you like to drop the idea of Education, I suggest you join politics.