Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

For quality education

This refers to the editorial “Oh, for quality education” (Jan. 9). To bridge the skill-deficit of 0.5 million workers India is likely to confront in 2010, the quality of education and teaching must improve drastically at the school level across the country. Also, it is imperative that the educational boards consult leading industries while framing the syllabi for high school and secondary school students. These steps, which are equally applicable to higher education and research, will not only enhance the human capital but also the employability levels of our youth in industry.

S. Ramakrishnasayee,

Ranipet

The fact that India, which is soon to be the most populous nation, is expected to fall short of 0.5 million workers by 2010 comes as a rude shock. It is particularly shameful in the context of higher education, because India probably has the world’s largest educational network. We present a paradoxical picture of success to the world with a few thousands of our graduates prospering, courtesy the Information Technology sector, and millions struggling due to lack of skills or missed opportunities. We have failed to address the issue of empowering all the entrants into higher education with skills that will help them to make a career. The divide between the so-called bright students and the rest is ever increasing.

Nicholas Francis,

Madurai

It is shocking to learn that according to World Bank, only 10 per cent to 25 per cent of general college graduates are suitable for employment.

The government should ensure quality education in all educational institutions by providing adequate funds and issuing suitable guidelines regarding curriculum.

Avinash Kumar,

Gurgaon

The editorial rightly exposes the inadequacies in our higher education. Periodic visionary announcements at science meets by political leaders and science administrators sound attractive but the conditions of our universities, where departments are shorn of outstanding leaders, remain unchanged.

It is time universities strengthened their departments and research paraphernalia to utilise the available funds efficiently. Appointments should be strictly on merit.

P.K. Ponnuswamy,

Udumalpet

The Prime Minister has stressed the need for a quantum jump in science education and research and announced an unprecedented increase in funds allocation and setting up of new central universities. These are, of course, welcome but what is more important, as the editorial points out, is to give priority to more effective steps to improve the quality of education in the existing universities and institutions.

Unemployment among the educated youth is not about opportunities but about employability. The first step towards improving the quality of education is engaging quality teachers. And there should be more attractive incentives to talented students to not only take up science subjects at the graduate and post-graduate levels but also to pursue research in science.

K.V. Ravindran,

Payyanur

Resurrecting crumbling edifices, if not impossible, is a tough and time-consuming task. The only way to prevent the number of ‘suitable-for-employment’ personnel from declining further is to set up new institutions. It serves little purpose to have thousands of students graduating every year and not finding employment avenues. The larger sections of students should be trained in specialised skills, depending on the needs of the growing economy.

Sudhir Raniwala,

Jaipur

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