[net.nlang.india] colleges in India

jsingh@cive.ri.cmu.edu (Jeff Singh) (02/23/86)

There was some discussion a while ago about revamping the college
system in India.  I think it is worth spending some time discussing.

I think that the government should yank almost all support to
universities.  This could be done slowly, in several phases till
the universities can generate funds on their own.  This money
can then be diverted into secondary school eduation where it
is direly needed.

Come on face it, most of you from IIT will agree that there is
a large percentage of IIT population geared to move to the U.S as
soon as they are done.  I think there is nothing wrong with leaving
India and moving to the States (being an expatriot myself) but consider
the amount of money that the government spends on each IIT student.
I think that if IIT were to cost 5 or 10 times as it does now
(which is a pitiable sum) most of you would have still attended.
There are those who couldn't afford it at 10 times the current tuition,
but scholarships could accomodate such people.
In general there are too many people in college in India with not 
enough to do.  Maybe a hike in price and in quality of education
would mean that a degree would represent more.

  Sanjiv Singh

sanjiva@tesla.UUCP (Sanjiva Prasad) (02/25/86)

> There was some discussion a while ago about revamping the college
> system in India.  I think it is worth spending some time discussing.

Good idea.
> 
> I think that the government should yank almost all support to
> universities. 

Why ? Most university systems --- big ones, especially those here are funded
directly or indirectly by government. Better the Ministry of Education than the
Min. of Defence. 

Interestingly, I have heard rather *unexpected* views from fellow Indian 
students here that Univ education in India isn't too bad compared to here, 
despite the big difference in resources.

>               This could be done slowly, in several phases till
> the universities can generate funds on their own.  
                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

How ? Do you think research programs in private colleges here get paid for
with tuition fees ? Fees paid by students barely covers staff salaries.


>                                                      This money
> can then be diverted into secondary school eduation where it
> is direly needed.
> 

Sometime ago, a UP state bureaucrat told my father that over 60 % of the 
state's excise ( ? ) revenue was channeled into school level education, most
of it going towards salaries. A LOT of money --- and no results, not in UP at
least.


>                          I think there is nothing wrong with leaving
> India and moving to the States (being an expatriot myself) 
                                           ^^^^^^^^^

That's a GREAT Pun ! ( I hope it was ----- for there are people who are both
expatriates and ex-patriots )


Sanjiva Prasad

ams@philabs.UUCP (Ali Shaik) (03/01/86)

Subject: colleges in India

> There was some discussion a while ago about revamping the college
> system in India.  I think it is worth spending some time discussing.

> I think that the government should yank almost all support to
> universities.  This could be done slowly, in several phases till

> Come on face it, most of you from IIT will agree that there is
> a large percentage of IIT population geared to move to the U.S as
>
>  Sanjiv Singh

	There may be some scope for change in the college system,
	but yr. ideas seem simplistic: 'revamping', 'yanking' support,
	etc. What do you want the schools to do, Star Wars research? :-)

	I am (cough, cough) ex-IITM, and yes, large %-ages of grads
	do emigrate, and it's difficult to answer this because I'm
	one of them. But thats no reason to 'yank' money from the
	universities.

	Change may be necessary in the examination system, for instance.
	Exams once a year, where there is great incentive for the
	papers to 'leak' out, needs changing (but not to the frantic
	levels of testing one had at IITM!). 

	Ali Shaik       ..ihnp4!philabs!ams
		..ucbvax!/