Only 11 % youth in higher education, school heads concerned

Updated on: Sunday, February 06, 2011

With only 11 per cent of the Indian youths enrolled in higher education, heads of various schools rued that higher education has lost its edge.
"Only 11 per cent of the 110 million youths of India in the age group of 18-24 are enrolled in higher education. This certainly calls for a serious re-look," said E V Miranda, principal of St Edmund's College, Shillong at a conference organised by the Meghalaya College Principals' Council (MCPC).

"Even a cursory look at the state of higher education in India would reveal that on many counts it has lost the edge it once enjoyed. With little innovation, thanks to the too little investment that has been a major bane, with its ill-devised regulatory framework, and with lack of life skill relevant course material, higher education in India warrants substantial reforms," Miranda stressed.

He said entry of private operators in the domain of higher education has significantly altered the scenario though with "certain unwarranted developments".

The issues of accessibility, quality and equity assume importance since education is now treated as a "purchasable commodity", he said.

Pro-Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) David Syiemlieh pointed out that ever since the World Bank and IMF begun funding higher education in India, there has been a gradual "withdrawal" of state patronage in this field.

"Government funding is presently large but it is drying out and there is concern that privatisation will come at a social cost and foster inequality," he said.

Society for Economic and Educational Development president and former UGC secretary G D Sharma said that neither the NDA nor the present UPA regime thought of reformulating the policy on education in spite of the fact that ground realities have significantly changed since the formulation of 1986 Policy on Education.

"The revision carried out in 1992 in the education policy was marginal. In any case the situation has changed after 1995 when world and India entered into new phase of liberalisation of economies. Both the regimes allowed things to drift," he said and emphasised that on a change in policy.

Addressing the principals, 40 of whom have gathered from different parts of the country, Meghalaya Governor R S Mooshahary emphasised on imparting "value education" in colleges and universities.

"You should become agents of change and not produce human machines to merely earn money but churn out men with minds," he exhorted.

The conference, which will be attended by Oscar Fernandes, MP and chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education on its concluding day tomorrow is
expected to adopt various resolutions which would be forwarded to the Union HRD ministry for consideration.

Only 11 % youth in higher education, school heads concerned

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