Give a critique of the expansion and development of higher education in india
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Abstract
The world has realized that the economic success of the states is directly determined by their education systems.
Education is a Nation’s Strength. A developed nation is inevitably an educated nation. Indian higher education
system is the third largest in the world, next to the United States and China. Since independence, India as a
developing nation is contentiously progressing in the education field. Although there have been lot of challenges
to higher education system of India but equally have lot of opportunities to overcome these challenges and to
make higher education system much better. It needs greater transparency and accountability, the role of colleges
and universities in the new millennium, and emerging scientific research on how people learn is of utmost
important. India need well skilled and highly educated people who can drive our economy forward. India
provides highly skilled people to other countries therefore; it is very easy for India to transfer our country from a
developing nation to a developed nation. The current study aims to highlight the challenges and to point out the
opportunities in higher education system in India.
Keywords: Education, Opportunities, Challenges, Colleges, Universities
Introduction
India's higher education system is the world's third largest in terms of students, next to China and the United
States. In future, India will be one of the largest education hubs. India's Higher Education sector has witnessed a
tremendous increase in the number of Universities/University level Institutions & Colleges since independence.
The ‘Right to Education Act’ which stipulates compulsory and free education to all children within the age
groups of 6-14 years, has brought about a revolution in the education system of the country with statistics
revealing a staggering enrolment in schools over the last four years. The involvement of private sector in higher
education has seen drastic changes in the field. Today over 60% of higher education institutions in India are
promoted by the private sector. This has accelerated establishment of institutes which have originated over the
last decade making India home to the largest number of Higher Education institutions in the world, with student
enrolments at the second highest (Shaguri, 2013).The number of Universities has increased 34 times from 20 in
1950 to 677 in 2014. Despite these numbers, international education rating agencies have not placed many of
these institutions within the best of the world ranking. Also, India has failed to produce world class universities.
Today, Knowledge is power. The more knowledge one has, the more empowered one is. However,
India continues to face stern challenges. Despite growing investment in education, 25 per cent of its population is
still illiterate; only 15 per cent of Indian students reach high school, and just 7 per cent graduate (Masani, 2008).
The quality of education in India whether at primary or higher education is significantly poor as compared to
major developing nations of the world. As of 2008, India's post-secondary institutions offer only enough seats
for 7 per cent of India's college-age population, 25 per cent of teaching positions nationwide are vacant, and 57
per cent of college professors lack either a master's or PhD degree (Newsweek, 2011). As of 2011, there are
1522 degree-granting engineering colleges in India with an annual student intake of 582,000 (Science and
Technology Education, 2009) plus 1,244 polytechnics with an annual intake of 265,000. However, these
institutions face shortage of faculty and concerns have been raised over the quality of education (Mitra, 2008).
Despite these challenges higher education system of India equally have lot of opportunities to overcome
these challenges and have the capability to make its identity at international level. However, it needs greater
transparency and accountability, the role of universities and colleges in the new millennium, and emerging
scientific research on how people learn is of utmost important. India provides highly skilled people to other
countries therefore; it is very easy for India to transfer our country from a developing nation to a developed