Privatisation Perspectives Of Higher Education In India

PRIVATISATION PERSPECTIVES OF HIGHERso on are conducted by the institutions.  The
EDUCATION IN INDIAgovernment funded institutions fail to meet this
OPINIONS AND STATEMENTScriteria and practice due to lack of funds and the
 bureaucratic bottlenecks inherent in the system. 
 THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIASome of the government and government funded
 institutions have formidably contributed better results
The landmark judgment of Honorable Supreme Courtaccording to the assessment made by the council
(SC) of India emphasized the(NAAC).                  
 need to protect and strengthen private funded 
higher education system in India by stating " The ideaThe overall performance of government sponsored
of an academic degree as a "private good" thatand aided institutions are lagging behind the private
benefits the individual, rather than a "public good" forinstitutions for major reasons namely, shortage of
the society, is now widely accepted.  The logic offunds and delay in approval and sanctions by their
today's economics and an ideology of privatizationhigher authorities. If this hindering block or hurdle is
have contributed to the resurgence of private higherremoved it is worthwhile to assure that the
education and  establishing private institutions wheregovernment institutions can fairly do better than
none, or very few existed before" in the year 1993.private institutions.
  
  
THE WORLD BANKAVENUES AND
  Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
The World Bank in mid-nineties said, "Developing 
countries should not invest their scarce resources onIndia being a developing nation has achieved a
higher education".  It underlined stating that socialsplendid growth in human power potentiality
return on investment made in higher education is(especially in information Technology sector) only
very low compared to primary and secondaryrecently to say a decade or so.  At this juncture it is
education.essential that the government should constitute a
 committee at national level to derive at a solution
 UNESCO gave a controversial view in the yearthrough consensus, whether the subsidies provided
1995, stating that " state and society must perceivefor higher education should be withdrawn.  It can
higher education not as a burden on federal budgetsalso be supplanted with the ongoing process, but
but as a long term domestic investment in order tobefore a leap it is advisable to view the place where
increase economic competitiveness, culturalit may land.
development and social cohesion." 
  
Government of India favoured the ruling of SupremeIn the globalisation era, privatization of higher
Court and statement of World Bank and draftededucation is inevitable and important crucial element
papers on cutting downing subsidies and expendituresfor development of society and economy.  The
on higher education classifying it as non-merit goodsexisting objectives are to be redesigned to cater the
which can substantially reduce the fiscal budgets. needs of the present and future environment. 
The percentage of money spent on education byPrivatization of higher education will certainly create
the governments, as a whole (state and central) wascompetitiveness and up gradation in educational
only 5.6% of GDP.  Government proposed to reducesystem and curriculum but it is essential to consider a
the subsidy on higher education to 25% over anew system and objectives, which will improve the
period of five years starting from 1994-95, when itperformance and standards.  The new educational
stood at 90%.system should posses certain qualitative objectives
 like self-learning, varied sources of information,
 adaptation to new skills and knowledge and finally
The World Conference on higher education statedprofessionalism.  The new policies should rely on
that "higher education is a public good, and thedecentralization and need based systems and
benefits cannot be estimated in monetary terms". perspectives. 
It also reiterated "higher education should be 
accessible to all on the basis of merit".The task of the government is to create an
 environment to transform existing institutions both
  funded and non-funded into rapid knowledge basket
1. In the words of David E Bloom, the head of thewhich will ensure growth in technology and
Task Force Secretariat of UNESCO  "In today'sdevelopment of skilled people.
world, higher education is basic education".  Three 
factors are considered on why higher education Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
funding is an essential investment for social good, Â Â Â Â Â Â 
higher living standard, human rights and democracy,IMPLEMENTATION IDEOLOGIES
they are 
1. Uncontrollable demand for higher educationLearning is an anywhere, anytime, lifelong process
2. Growing importance of knowledge in the modernand second thought on this by government should be
globalisation eradisregarded. Educational programmes are to be made
3. To compete in knowledge and technology withelastic and offered at any time and place rather as
advanced economies.calendar programme.   The distance learning
 programmes of universities have contributed
 untenable credit to the society at large and
2. Higher education occupies the centre position totransformed it into a literacy strong economy.  This
the entire process of earning and research.venture has also yielded good result and has revived
  Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, statesman, educationalist andmany sick universities into financially self- sufficient
philosopher firmly said that universities are responsibleinstitutions. 
for moral values and faith in human spirit, ushering the Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
world peace.  He regarded arts as a necessary Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
discipline for realizing creative imagination and science, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
engineering and technology were vital for developing 
a nation's resources and raising standards of commonThis policy should be encouraged, but it nevertheless
people.means that the government should not be a funding
 participant.  Until unemployment is eliminated and
 educational system is converted into value-based and
THE CONCERNS AND REASONS – FORvalue- added system the role of the government is
PRIVATISING OR RETENTION BY GOVERNMENTessential.  Modern methodologies and sophisticated
 teaching aids should replace traditional concepts and
The benefits of higher education are wronglyteaching practices, and that will be the right time for
perceived and evaluated. Higher salaries are not athe government to depart from its commitment to
quantifiable measurement for evaluating the outputthe economy and the people.
of higher education.   The contribution of higher Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
education is to inculcate leadership qualities, business Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
culture and a stronger economy.  The foremost fruit        Conclusion: wait for a turnaround 
of education is a zero crime society. Statistical evidence states that only 9.8% of the
 student community resume for post-graduation. 
The Emergence of globalisation concept in the worldHigher education is an investment of time and
economy is hyper competitive and challenging.  Thisresources to reap greater socio-economic benefits. 
eventually necessitates the importance and positiveKnowledge is an incredible asset and undepleting
features and implications on the economy by higherresource.  Knowledge-lead activities increase the
education.  A land without higher education yieldsGDP of a nation, which is enabled by skilled
fruits, which will be nutritionally deficient. The scientificknowledgeable workers.
development and innovation are engenius that move 
on the economy to achieve strategic targets which 
or otherwise impossible to be dreamed.In the global scenario privatization of higher education
 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â      is widely accepted and practiced but in India State
The National evaluating body on higher educationfunding is essential for sustenance, growth, quality
(NAAC) established in 1994 have done a tremendousproduce and competition and above all to transform
job in classifying the higher educational institutionsour nation into a developed economy.  The
government, aided and private according to itsresponsibility of the government should not be
performance in the past and the proposed actions ofthrown away or/and to shoulder it on private
the future.  This has no doubt created awareness toinstitutions. In the developed economies like USA
the institutions as well as teaching community, toschool education is still supported and assisted by the
improve the performance through innovative meansState, this precedent is to be considered by India in
of imparting knowledge and also enhancing the levelhigher education. Hence, it is essential to think and
of educational system.   Training, industrial visits,make a right decision.
seminars, symposiums, workshop, competitions and