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Education Plus
Need for a larger role for the private sector
V. JAYANTH
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Curriculum revision, change in assessment method and funds for research are necessary for the expansion of the higher education system, says the Hoda committee.
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“To improve the quality of teaching in government medical colleges, the faculty should be allowed to undertake private practice and in other cases granted a handsome non-practising allowance.”
At a time when there has been a raging debate on the role of the private sector and private institutions in higher education, a High-Level Group on the Services sector, has recommended a larger role for private players in this critical field.
“Apart from expanding public investment in higher education as envisaged in the XI Plan, having regard to the magnitude of new investment needs, it would be necessary to involve the private and corporate sector fully for expanding facilities for higher education. While giving freedom to the private sector institutions in respect of fees, it would be necessary to ensure that they provide scholarships and freeships to an adequate number of meritorious students (and those from historically disadvantaged and vulnerable groups) who do not have the means to pay the fees. For this, the present disability imposed by the University Grants Commission and the Regulations of the All India Council for Technical Education and other regulatory bodies on the eligibility of ‘for-profit’ entities to establish educational institutions must be removed,” the group said in its recommendations to the government.
The group, led by Planning Commission member Anwarul Hoda, noted: “Higher education in particular needs attention, as the existence of a small number of institutions of excellence has diverted attention from the serious problem of quality in the majority of institutions of higher learning. The curricula must be revised periodically, the method of assessment of student changed so that it encourages the development of analytical and creative skills rather than testing memory. In order to overcome the problem of shortage of teachers, particularly in technical education, it is necessary to look into the salary structure and career opportunities of teachers, give them greater freedom to undertake consultancies and allocate funds for them to undertake research.”
Noting that the country could not aspire to become a knowledge society with a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 11 per cent against the world average of 23.2 per cent, the group called for a consideration of ways to expand the system of higher education. It recommended the opening up of the sector to profit enterprises, at least in technical education to begin with. “The private sector institutions should of course be subject to regulation, but only on matters related to curriculum and standards of staffing and physical infrastructure, not for fees and salaries.”
Health sector
The High-Level Group was particularly concerned about the health sector and its requirement of human resource at all levels — from specialists to paramedical personnel. “The Group is of the view that the only way to accomplish this is for the medical sector to be opened up completely for private sector participation and companies to be allowed to establish medical and dental colleges just as they have been allowed to open nursing colleges.” In order to improve the quality of teaching in government medical colleges, it has suggested incentives to the faculty — wherever possible, they should be allowed to undertake private practice and in other cases granted “handsome non-practising allowance.”
Similarly, the group has recommended creation of regulatory Paramedical Council for expansion of training facilities and for improvement in training programmes as well. A Clinical and Medical Research Council, with the participation of the private sector, could formulate, promote and run training programmes in the area. A similar case has also been made out for the tourism and hospitality sector, with skilled and trained manpower for administration, catering and tourism promotion.
Asked for a response from the industry, a Senior Human Resources Manager in an IT major said: “We are all for greater involvement in education. Our company is prepared to set up a college that can turn out more qualified and industry-relevant graduates. But we are worried about government and political interference at all stages. Unless the policy and the regulations are clear and the atmosphere entirely academic, we will find it very difficult to start or manage an educational institution.”
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