Need for Study of "Psychology‟ as a Subject in Indian Education System

Abstract

Psychology plays a crucial role in education by providing a scientific understanding of human behavior,
learning, and development. Its study helps teachers and educators understand individual differences, learning
styles, and the emotional and social needs of students. Incorporating psychology into the education system can
lead to more effective teaching practices, improved learning outcomes, and a more supportive and nurturing
learning environment. Educational studies in India has its roots in teacher training, beginning with an
apprenticeship model for primary school teachers in the 19th century. It was subsequently formally instituted in
“normal” schools, then colleges, and finally as departments of teacher education in universities by the mid-20th
century. In moving beyond school-level subject competence and school-based practical skills, the intellectual and
academic foundations and the professional character of teacher education were sought to be strengthened by
adding a disciplinary component of the “foundational” disciplines of history, philosophy, sociology, and
psychology of education. Of these, psychology, as the then-emerging science of human behavior, with a growing
corpus of scientific research, was most easily able to integrate into the programs and to contribute applicable
academic and research inputs into the professional content.