Education and educated are two different versions of the same word. Education is the activity of imparting knowledge while educated is the person who grasps that knowledge and can utilize the same. In India the everyday growing need of education is a challenge. Higher education is a bigger challenge. A person who can read or write is termed as literate but enhancing that literacy and optimum utilization of education is where higher education fits in. The scope of providing higher education is a key challenge for developing countries like India.
India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world. RBI projects GDP of the country at 8.5% as per the latest monetary policy review. Now what is that to do with the India’s higher education? Education is a key player in the growth of nation. Better education at any level, be it school or university transforms into better development of human mind. At University level it is this nurturing of this evolution that is essential for the growth of individual and country.
In a nation with 1.2 billion of population, more than 12% of the people are in the age group of 17-24 years. This is a demographic group, which needs to be groomed as they can contribute to the growth of economy.
Higher education an uphill task:
Higher education standards should not be set in isolation. The order of the day is to face the real world and gyration of minds and ideas. Renovation is what is required for the development of higher education system in India.
Mushrooming of educational institutes in last one decade is an area of concern. Instead of providing quality education these institutions have become means to earn quick bucks at the cost of aspiring students.
The rise of deemed universities is also a matter of concern. Therefore it is more challenging to rehabilitate professional education and to check the mushrooming of these bogus universities. The quality of teaching and the standards should meet contemporary needs. The role of government is crucial in this regard. Therefore the need of the hour is to set strict standards so that transparency in universities is achieved.
Initiatives by government in eleventh five year plan (2007-2012):
The government has tried to rise to the need of imparting higher education. In the ongoing 11th five year plan an allocation of ` 85000 crores have been made for higher and technical education. Government is also planning to enhance its educational expenditure to 6% of GDP.
The plan aims at improving the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) to 15% by 2011-12 as against 12% in the year 2006. Setting up of new Indian institute Of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) are a part of this regime. Funding is also provided to set up new polytechnics in the country.
According to the National Development Council, expansion, inclusion and rapid improvement in quality throughout higher and technical education system by enhancing public spending, will be the core of the plan efforts. Initiation of the long overdue major institutional reforms will help in this matter.
Improved expenditure on education sector:
Expenditure on education has improved in last 10 years but that is not to be substituted with the number of students going in universities. In India 10% of relevant age group goes to universities while in developed countries the percentage varies from 22-25%. A major effort is required to expand caliber of higher education. Serious disparities are there between center and the state when it comes to higher education. The process of higher education needs to be universal and should not be selective.
The total budget expenditure in 2001-02 was ` 64848 crores, this improved to ` 94484 crores in 2005-06 and ` 154410 crores in 2008-09. This was also 11.6% of the total expenditure on all sectors. As a percentage of GDP, the education budget of all departments increased from 3.36 % in 2004-05 to 3.78 % in 2008-09.
Now increasing the budget expenditure is not the solution. The requirement is to see whether the budget allocated is reaching the destination. Accountability is the key word that India has lacked over these years especially in higher education sector. Cases of donation and paid seats are quite widespread these days in universities. Lack of availability of seats is the cause. In economic terms, demand lacks supply. Increasing the number of seats in existing colleges in a temporary solution. Prerequisite is to set better institutes and quality universities in areas where the need is higher.
Outlook:
The 11th plan has addressed key issues relating to expenditure and budget allocation in educational sector but the need is about the allocation reaching the knowledge areas. A specific plan for upgrading existing select universities with a potential for excellence must be formulated.
New universities must be set in areas of need. Quality of education in universities must be ensured. Specific guidelines and training must be arranged for professors and lecturers because through them quality and professional education will be channelized to students.
State universities or central institutions must not be discriminated and benefits of central universities must be provided to state universities as well. A national database of the performance of state and central universities must be maintained. This will improve the working environment in these universities and will create accountability towards students.
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