‘Pioneer-Dilli Billi’-31st.January.2010

Aamir Khan’s latest creation “Three Idiots”, the current rage among the academic community has highlighted only one of the weaknesses of our higher specialized education, that is the overriding focus on cramming, to clear the exams. There are actually so many ills afflicting our academic institutions that its about time we woke up to the stark reality about the low quality of our education than living in our make believe world of being a world academic power.
Our primary education is neglected, to put it mildly and the government has done well to pass the act guaranteeing education to all at this level. The issue is, however, does the central government have the resources to fund this ambitious project entirely on its own, considering the tardy response of the states, both in terms of their contribution towards finance and the necessary infrastructure? The primary schools across the various states lie in shambles- broken run down structures with teachers who live not in that village and make their presence felt occasionally. With the district Education Officer playing ball with the collector and local politicians, primary education is just another file in the Babu’s almirah both at the district and state headquarters.
That is why there is clamour for higher education. Because schools, except the kendriya vidyalayas and some good private ones teach you nothing and prepare you for nothing. Look at the applications you get for ordinary jobs- the qualifications of the applicants are astounding and yet a majority of them are not suited for even such jobs. This is because the degrees they hold are acquired easily through various underhand methods. Check out how some local politicians and sometimes even the big ones put in all their might to keep examination centres in some specific schools of their choice, not for any altruistic motive, but to allow students to use unfair means. After all vote banks are more important than the sanctity of the examination system.
While fake degrees have been unearthed from time to time during college admissions, it is the relaxed and farcical schedule of college classes that is most worrisome. Barring the professional colleges like the IITs and medical and law schools, students love college because of its “free for all” style. Lecturers lecture and walk away and students are left to themselves to do what they feel like. Therefore even an ordinary college degree fetches you nothing by way of a job.
As if this was not enough, the latest racket concerning the Deemed universities will finally put the last nail in the coffin of higher education in the country. According to the report filed by the government in the Supreme Court, 44 such universities are to be derecognized for non fulfillment of the laid down criteria. Roughly 2 lac students would be affected. Of course how many of them are serious students is anybody’s guess.
Even a fleeting visit to some of these so called universities will tell you what a fraud has been played with the system and how recognition was given to most of them. Worse still, grants were given by the UGC to several of such unfit ones. The whole system was subverted by appointing the ‘right’ expert committee and setting up ‘appropriate procedures’. An honest UGC secretary was hounded out when he protested.
Sure enough, politicians are involved with some pliable IAS babus as usual. Of the 44 to be derecognized, some are owned by politicians. For every minister in GOI, doling out favours is an important criterion of perceived importance. For HRD, recognition grant to academic institutions is one such critical area.
What is the lesson? Throw out politicians and the babus from the education sector and you will see remarkable improvement in no time.