In India, the road to reform is long and not without potholes and pitfalls. The United Progressive Alliance, in its second term, has laid out a vision for the future of education in the country in the form of several bills. But with corruption and other issues overshadowing all else, these proposals have not been adequately understood or debated.
There are quite a few areas in which the Central and State governments need to think and act fast. Bringing transparency in the education system and its processes is definitely one, especially when it comes to the administration of universities, the appointment of faculty or vice-chancellors. With the mushrooming of private institutions, cost has replaced quality. The widening chasm between elite institutions in the cities and their counterparts in rural areas has to be bridged. Language continues to be a great barrier in taking science and technology to every student in the country. For scientific knowledge to be democratised, lessons and educational material — including technical books — need to be in the native language for the benefit of the majority of the students.
While engineering education — the most sought after discipline in India — needs to be looked at from a fresh perspective beyond IT, other areas of study too need to expanded simultaneously. There is a debate over the national test for entry into the premier medical and technical institutes. Apart from several bills aimed at regulating and streamlining the system, the bill that will allow foreign investment is also pending. As reforms reach the gates of our institutes of higher learning, we will keep our readers informed about the options, trends and impact these will have.
ADVERTISEMENT
In Tamil Nadu, higher education resembles a ship that is captained by sailors. The merger of five technical universities with Anna University is still shrouded in confusion, half-a-dozen universities have no vice-chancellors or registrars, audits have exposed deep flaws in the evaluation system, and the shore, it seems, is quite distant.
Since its launch in 2004, Education Plus has been a one-stop place for students who are at a crossroads. The Hindu wants them to make an informed choice about the courses they choose since this decision, more than anything else, shapes their career trajectories. The supplement has constantly been keeping track of emerging areas of study, offering expert views and conducting discussions and debates on policy issues for students who are the most important stakeholders in the education system.
The eighth anniversary edition of
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
As we march ahead this year, we look forward to even greater engagement with our readers. Please send us your suggestions, comments and feedback so that we can generate better and more relevant pieces. In particular, if there is something we are not covering, let us know.
Do e-mail your feedback to edufeedback@thehindu.co.in or post your responses to Education Plus, The Hindu, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
Editor