Hyderabad: With close to a thousand different universities, about 40 thousand colleges, and another eleven and a half thousand institutions ... Indian higher education expansion is very grand to look at, but a close look at its quality reveals mostly a dismal view. That studies and analyses suggest that in terms of research all the central universities in India put together are not equivalent to Cambridge (Britain) or Stanford (US)....reveal the deeply rooted disorganisation of the university system.
The latest study by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) reveals shocking realities at the field level. The reason for this backwardness in the standard of education, quality of teaching, research, etc., is strongly attributed to the lapses at the root level. NAAC says that 600 universities and 25,000 colleges across the country are not accredited. Some educational institutions do not face the process of accreditation with many excuses. 22% of respondents stayed away from the survey for the fear of unnecessary exposure to the low standards with them. 72% of the participants in the exercise say that they are actively trying to improve their performance.
Elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, out of around two and half thousand institutions of higher education, less than eight hundred could succeed in getting the accreditation! The seats of higher learning which should consistently strive for improvement in the standards of teaching and learning and propagate quality research that contributes to knowledge are satisfied by limiting themselves as centres of issuance of certificates.....highlights dangerous trends. Higher education, which has to play a key role in the construction of the nation, is suffering from inferior quality teaching and research. Failure to meet specific standards will not merit accreditation by the NAAC.
The observation of the NAAC that many colleges in rural India lack infrastructure and e-learning facilities mirror failure to comply with minimum standards. However, there is a sufficient number of government colleges which can afford to pay requisite fee of nearly three and a half lakh rupees in cash and 18% GST for accreditation! Universities in many states have no governing bodies, Vice-Chancellor positions are vacant for years, the flow of funds has dried up and they are suffering from many problems.
The Oxford University's view that any university desirous of finding a place in the list of world-class universities must appoint talented academics as teaching faculty is very valid. But it needs sufficient financial resources! The interest of ten best universities in the world, with a focus on creative teaching and high standards, has produced more than 800 Nobel laureates. Contrary to this, due to carelessness in appointments, creation of infrastructure and funds allotment, 90% of colleges and 70% of universities nationally have become synonyms for poor education and production centres of unemployed! How can institutions that are struggling to get accreditation domestically can compete internationally?
The present situation will improve gradually only if primary education is reformed, and higher education is recognised as an essential investment for quality human resources, and fully qualified academics are appointed as teachers under the aegis of a dedicated and committed organisation.
