How randomised controlled trials hollowed out Indian education

How randomised controlled trials hollowed out Indian education

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The rise of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in Indian education has been touted as a solution to the country's educational woes. However, a closer look reveals that RCTs have done more harm than good. They have oversimplified complex issues, prioritized measurable outcomes over understanding and context, and created a new priesthood of 'hard evidence' that has hollowed out Indian education.

RCTs have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of various educational interventions, but they have been criticized for their limitations. They are based on a treatment-control mindset, which assumes that education can be reduced to a set of measurable outcomes. However, education is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be captured by a single metric.

Moreover, RCTs have created a new professional class of 'evidence brokers' who are more interested in producing publishable results than in understanding the underlying mechanisms of education. This has led to a system where donors want attribution, ministries want quick wins, vendors want procurement, and academic careers want publishable results. RCTs fit this ecology beautifully because they offer a number that looks like certainty.

The rise of RCTs has also led to a neglect of the politics of schooling and education. The problems with measurement have been pushed into appendices, and the background noise that is often the real story in education has been ignored. This has resulted in a narrow focus on test-score outcomes that can be demonstrated quickly, rather than a deeper understanding of the complex issues that affect education.

In conclusion, RCTs have done more harm than good in Indian education. They have oversimplified complex issues, prioritized measurable outcomes over understanding and context, and created a new priesthood of 'hard evidence' that has hollowed out Indian education. It is time to rethink the role of RCTs in education and to prioritize a more nuanced and contextual understanding of the complex issues that affect education.

Importance for Students

The impact of RCTs on Indian education is significant for students. By prioritizing measurable outcomes over understanding and context, RCTs have created a narrow focus on test-score outcomes that can be demonstrated quickly. This has resulted in a neglect of the complex issues that affect education, such as the politics of schooling and education, and the background noise that is often the real story in education.

Moreover, the rise of RCTs has created a new professional class of 'evidence brokers' who are more interested in producing publishable results than in understanding the underlying mechanisms of education. This has led to a system where donors want attribution, ministries want quick wins, vendors want procurement, and academic careers want publishable results. RCTs fit this ecology beautifully because they offer a number that looks like certainty.

In order to address the issues created by RCTs, students need to be aware of the limitations of RCTs and the importance of a nuanced and contextual understanding of the complex issues that affect education. They need to be critical of the narrow focus on test-score outcomes and to prioritize a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of education.

Category: Education Policy Reform

MetaTitle: How randomised controlled trials hollowed out Indian education

MetaDescription: The rise of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in Indian education has been touted as a solution to the country's educational woes. However, a closer look reveals that RCTs have done more harm than good.

Keywords: RCTs, Indian education, education policy reform, evidence-based policy, education research

pubDateISO: 2026-02-23

sourceName: Careers360