Maritime education in india- The ‘theory-practice’ conudrum

Abstract

Maritime education enjoys a unique status amongst traditional education and fields of study. The uniqueness is born out of two important factors; one is that the maritime courses are compulsorily built on global standards; the second is that it is still evolving in curricula as compared to conventional courses. This paper attempts to trace the origin of maritime education in India and take the reader through India’s rich maritime heritage so as to comprehend the significance of this field in the broader perspective. The paper also touches upon how in earlier periods prior to independence the British literally led the maritime sector through her Royal Navy for over 250 years right up to early twentieth century. Fields of maritime study depended greatly on practical training and experience rather than formalised theoretical training. It was only in the post- independence era that training institutes started formal classroom teaching of maritime courses. Shipping, considered as the core of maritime activity, operates on a worldwide canvas, in a multinational, multicultural, and multifunctional environment. To work competently in such an intricate setting, the seafarers must be trained bearing in mind all international standards and related regulations. They need a strong theoretical grounding evenly balanced by practical training sessions. The paper deliberates on the challenges faced by the maritime teaching fraternity in arriving at the right mix of theory and practice and imparting a curriculum laced with the strict discipline that is considered paramount for shipping careers.