Dr. Devendra
Kothari PhD
Population and Development Analyst
Forum
for population Action
“While the desired levels of research and
internationalization of Indian campuses remain weak points, Indian higher
education also suffers from a lack of funds, and its largely linear model with
very little focus on specialization.”
livemint
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced
the Class 12 examination results on May 26, 2018. An analysis of
the results brings very interesting facts, as noted in the TOI Edit: Give them
wings: CBSE results reveal lakhs of students raring to go. The system mustn’t
fail them[1]
CBSE’s Class 12 board examination
results lay out neatly the contradictions of the Indian education system. There
is no dearth of bright students – 72,599 scored 90% or above and 83.1% of the 1.18
million students who took the test have passed. But rather than exult or be
relieved these students face a harrowing time securing admission to
undergraduate courses of their choice. Often the best among them head to a
clutch of prestigious colleges in big cities amid uncertainty and insecurity
over making it through.
This
is most evident in Delhi University (DU) colleges where students from across
the country flock to. First list cutoffs are known to soar over 99 per cent,
not surprising considering that 12,737 students have scored over 95 per cent.
Also note that CBSE is just one among other education boards and a ten million
(crore) or so students pass out of
education boards run by state governments. While it is not clear whether the
consistently rising pass percentages and topper scores are a result of quality
improvements or a liberal testing regime, the trend does require higher
education to play catch up.
It
has tried to do so by increasing seats and courses in top institutions like DU
and IITs. But unlike school education where the private sector has stepped up
and catered to rising aspirations, this has happened more slowly in higher
education, mainly because of the vice-like grip of UGC and AICTE. Granting more
autonomy to decide fees, student intake, courses and industry partnerships can
reverse the quality stagnation in higher education.
But
analysing Class 12 CBSE results alone may not give a general picture of school
education. For instance, ASER survey results (Pratham) show declining learning
outcomes in lower classes and very little probability of those students
reaching Class 12.[2]
But
the CBSE results are an aspiration index that policy makers cannot ignore. For
example, some toppers are contemplating going abroad to pursue undergraduate
education. These students have the gap between foreign and Indian universities
in mind. This suggests the need for education reforms at every level to ensure
better quality. Both public and private education approaches have their task
cut out.
According to CBSE results, Meghna Srivastava topped all
India with 499 marks out of 500. This is the calibre of many young Indians, at least on
education, but the system is letting them down and forcing them to seek greener
pastures.
The
higher education and research sector in India is not in a good shape, due to
mismanagement. The Times
Higher Education World University Rankings provide the
definitive list of the world's best universities, evaluated across teaching,
research, international outlook, reputation and more. According to
THE, not a single Indian university/institute gets a place in the top
200 world university rankings in 2016. [3]
The rankings reveal that Indian Institute of Science (IIS) lies between
251 and 300 and IIT-B are ranked between 351 and 400. On the other hand, China takes four places in
the top 200 in 2016, up from two in 2015, with its leader Peking University
joining the top 30, at 29th place (up from 42nd in 2015).
If the private sector
is fulfilling a felt need in school education, it should be encouraged to do so
in higher education as well. Open up the regulatory maze, in order that this
space is not dominated by the political class. Foreign universities should be
invited to set up campuses in India. Another major problem in higher education
is getting good teachers.
[1] This post is mainly
based on TOI Edit , published on May 28, 2018 in Times of India newspaper at https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-editorials/give-them-wings-cbse-results-reveal-lakhs-of-students-raring-to-go-the-system-mustnt-fail-them/
[2] Kothari, Devendra. 2017. “Managing school
education in India”, in Administrative Change, Vol. XLIV (2) 78-89.
[3] India Today. 2016. “World University Ranking 2015 to
2016: No Indian university in top 200, IITs and others in top 600”, India Today
at: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/top-indian-universities-322233-2016-05-07
