“We seem to be obsessed with rankings of our institutions, an obsession that may catalyse further decline as institutions optimise irrelevant parameters,” said P. Balaram, Former Director of the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru. He was speaking at the 38th Annual Convocation of the Anna University on Tuesday.
Stating that there had been a systematic and accelerating decline of academic activity in major universities, he said that while many new institutions were created, old institutions have been neglected and in decay.
“The depths to which our higher education system, both central and state, has sunk is evident in the inability of the governments to appoint vice chancellors to lead our institutions. Even when appointments are made, controversies and charges follow,” he said. Mr. Balram emphasised the need to stem the rising tide of neglect of the sectors of higher education and said that future generations of teachers and students deserve better conditions.
“It is important that we leave education at the hands of educationalists and prevent political interference,” he noted, while recalling how a case had been made for eliminating topics such as evolutionary principles from textbooks.
Through the course of his convocation address, Mr. Balaram further spoke about the need to promote a broad public understanding of science and why science merited public support.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit presided over the convocation and Minister for Higher Education K.P. Anbalagan was present.
