Reservation, Education and Economy of India

A part of India is in constant agitation because recently our HRD ministry and honorable SC judges have given their decision in favor of implementing 27% quota for other backward classes in higher educational institutes.

I believe it is the education system in any country which the foundation of its economy. Developed economy and underdeveloped economy can be distinguished based upon its education system. Every developed economy in the world is having very robust, efficient and effective educational system.

The Indian education system is at near death. It is not, and in fact has never been, very good. It is one of the most flawed and corrupted system in this county.

Why does India have shortage of qualified college graduates?

• · Getting admission into a good school or college has become an extremely difficult task. The IITs, IIMs and AIIMs can only admit fewer than 2 percent of applicants. (In IITs annually around 300,000 compete to get a shot at 5,000 seats.)
• · By the 12th standard, the school dropout rate reaches an astounding 94 percent. Of those who finally graduate out of college, only around 15 percent (less than one percent of those who enter grade one) are employable, leading to a serious shortage of qualified college graduates.
• · Tens of millions of students do not get a proper education for a variety of reasons. Who knows how many Ramanujans, Venkata Ramans and Vikram Sarabhais have lived and died because they never had the opportunity of getting an education?

Over above what disturbs me most is the negative trend in our system. The above mentioned problems can be solved by creating good quality educational institutes in every part of the country. Instead of creating good quality educational institutes our corrupt politicians are emphasizing for the reservation in the institutes like IITs and IIMs just for pleasing their vote bank.

Education system in India is in the dire need of reform.

One of the reforms that I think can be in this system is to get the government out of this. Lets declare all the educational institutes (specially institutes like IITs, IIMs, AIIMs) autonomous. Let’s appoint Indian entrepreneurs and businessmen in the board of directors of these institutes and let them take the decision about the number of seats and fee of these institutes.

The recent move by the government to further increase quotas in these elite institutions with a view to social justice is ridiculous.

Education is the basic right of every citizen of any country. Everybody needs to be provided equal access and equal opportunity to quality education, irrespective of caste, creed, and economic status, right from the primary to the higher secondary school level.

But…………

What about the underprivileged sections of society (So called OBS, SC, ST) of this county?

• · Provide scholarships and easy bank loan.
• · Provide free books.
• · Provide free lodging and boarding in school hostels.

The education system in India is poor by design and inadequate enough to meet the needs of its poor economy. It must be changed if the country has to develop.

But…………

Will those corrupt politicians who control the present system for their own personal gains are willing to let go for the greater good? I hope for the sake of the beloved country that it comes to pass. Else we are all having a miserable future.