Plans for and the desire to expand higher education in the country is all there, but in effect there are many slips between the proverbial cup and the lip. Added to this is the lure of opportunities of work abroad, as a result of which there is a sense of preparation not preparedness.
Expansion, inclusion and rapid improvement in quality is the core of the 11th Plan vision approved by National Development Council and the process has begun for the objectives, though the provision for reservation, as stipulated by Supreme Court orders is yet to be taken care of. That leaves matters in a quagmire of doubt, under-preparedness and doubt in the coming couple of years.
The plan envisages enhancing public spending, encouraging private initiatives and undertaking the long overdue major institutional and policy reforms in the higher and technical education fields. An outlay of more than Rs. 5,000 crores has been accordingly projected for higher and technical education during the Plan period, which marks an over nine times increase at current prices, over the 10th Plan outlay for the sector priorities for higher education in the 11th Plan are expansion of access, equity, improvement of quality and optimal use of information and Communication Technology to promote achievement of these objectives.
Both Human Resource Development Ministry and Minister Arjun Singh are upbeat about the quota of 27 percent reservation as ordered by SC. While working on a Bill designed to extend the quota to unaided and private institutions. While some of the heads of institutions have expressed difficulty in implementing 27% reservation over two years left for the three year time frame, the Ministry is focused on the implementation, while making allowance for the fact that the pace of reservation may vary from institution to institution. Once the Bill is ready, it will be placed before the Cabinet for approval and then to Parliament. As is already known, 27 percent reservation for other backward classes would be implemented by increasing seats by 54 percent, so that seats for non-quota students remain the same. There would be a proportionate hike in SC/ST seats.
The extra cost to improve infrastructure was given by oversight Committee. Last year, all IITs got Rs. 771 crores to implement reservation. This year they will get Rs. 988 crores. Last year IIMs got Rs. 80 crores and this year they would be getting Rs 57 crores. Indian Institute of Science got Rs. 90 crores last year and Rs. 70 crores this year.
Last year, 41 Central educational institutions had an intake capacity of 1,24,377 seats to be given to general, SC and ST students. After partial reservation to OBCs, the intake was to increase by 2,216 seats, out if which nearly 9,500 would go to OBCs and more than 1,800 and over 900 to SCs and STs respectively.
On paper, these statistics and nuggets of information sound very bright and positive, however, on the ground, matters are going to be difficult. Finding enough quality teachers will be the biggest challenge for the government in implementing the 27 percent quota for other backward classes in the central higher education institutions and to give reality to its mega higher education expansion plans. The oversight Committee on quota implementation has projected a huge faculty requirement as the reservation quota means increasing seats in the institutions by 27 percent plus another 27 percent (54 percent) in all.
The IITs, according to projected estimates will require and additional 1950 teachers and IIMs over 300 to maintain the ideal student teacher ratio of 1:14 additionally the Central universities will need over 6,600 teachers more. Staring in the face is a current shortage of 10 to 15 per cent shortage of qualified faculty in 24 central universities, according to a statement given by Human Resources Development Ministry to Parliament recently. Although the government has decided to allow extension of retirement age for university and technical teachers from 62 to 65 years and also to allow re-employment till 70 years, the shortfall gap will still remain sizable.
Experts in Planning Commission donot deny that shortfall in qualified teaching faculty remains an area of serious concern. India at some stage in the not distant future may like to examine the choice China has made -- of bringing back its former students as teachers to the institutes they have studied in. The ex-students, now teaching faculty in foreign universities have been persuaded to join their alma mater, with higher salaries and perks.
Commission does not rule out the potential of working out higher pay packages for Indians teaching in foreign universities and institutions as well as for top teachers within the country. By doing this, teachers can be stopped from migrating abroad. It has also been noted that several teachers and professors of long standing are opting out of institutions of higher learning and joining the private sector institutions that are offering better facilities, packages and freedom of opportunity. Entities like IIM Ahmedabad director Mr. Bakul Dholakia joined private sector institute, much to the loss of IIM (A).
The University Grants Commission has also woken up to this reality and has indicated recently that teaching would be made more attractive, once the new pay recommendations of the Chadda Committee comes in a few months.
One more fact that comes to light in higher education is the shortage of qualified allopathic doctors over the years in our country, despite the fact that they are now facing racial and color discrimination in United Kingdom and Europe. While there is acute shortage of doctors in rural and semi-rural areas in India - the shortage works out to six lakh medical doctors. According to a Planning Commission report, while India is short of six lakh doctors, ten lakh nurses and two lakh dental surgeons, Indian doctors who have migrated to developed countries, form nearly five percent of their medical workforce. Almost 60,000 Indian physicians are estimated to be working in countries in USA, UK, Canada and Australia alone. India, on the other hand has a dismal patient doctor ratio of one doctor for 10,000 people.
Shibani Dasgupta, NPA
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