In 1947, driven out of a country scarred by decades of the imperialist rule, they left at least one parting gift a linguistic legacy that has formed a crucial ingredient in the country’s economic miracle. The English proficiency is hailed as an invaluable foundation in India’s rise to the top of the world’s information technology and knowledge outsourcing industries, fueling the country’s rapid growth with the billions of dollars of business every year and streams of overseas investments into a global Information Technology centers such as Bangalore. China was ranked one place above India in Education First’s 2011 English Proficiency Index. The first time India has been beaten by its neighbor and fellow BRIC economy in the International rankings of the foreign countries English speaking abilities.
The China is poised to surpass India in the number of English speakers in the coming years, if it has not already done so, the implications for the India’s future Information Technology and outsourcing prospects are not difficult to calculate. India has been coasting on its colonial legacy when it comes to English. Without the systematic changes needed to ensure greater penetration of the language, the advantage has been shrinking. As Chinese authorities ramp up English teaching in the schools across the country, looking to tap into a growing international outsourcing and Information Technology market. The India’s public education sector has been criticized for poor facilities falling standards and a lack of the government support.
English holds aspirational value for the average Indian who views it as a ticket to economic betterment. On the supply side, both of the central and state governments have been sadly lacking. It is time that they woke up to the particular side effect of the Indian public education system’s moribund state. There are economic consequence in the offing. The India’s far behind the China in manufacturing, it could be bester as a service provider as well.
The Malaysia which has mimicked India’s use of English as a language use by no-one and used by all. The tops the Asian region for the proficiency and it was placed ninth globally in the rankings, assessed using hundreds of the thousands of tests conducted across participating countries. To the extent that China is increasingly driving much of the regional economy it is the ability to communicate in English that will pressure all of its neighbors to keep pace. The India now appears to be playing to catch up.
REFERENCE:
http://www.outsourcingmalaysia.org.my/industry-news/-/INDIA/
