Comments for Reforming Education http://www.reformingeducation.in Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:23:37 +0530 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 Comment on Should Foreign Universities be allowed in India? by nidhi http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=109&cpage=1#comment-329 nidhi Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:23:37 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=109#comment-329 I think it shouldn't be allowed because the foreign universities don't give their best teachers to India as they are willing to set up schools and colleges in India only for only businness point of view. They are not interested in making children of other countries capable of competing with their students. I support the poractice of students going out for higher studies because they get a different environment and culture there which givrw them the opportunity to learn to adjust with th surrounding. But living in India and attending foreign schools and colleges gives no meaning at all. We can get the same or even better education in India even in our own schools and colleges. If our government wants the students to get higher qualifications then, instead of wasting money in setting up infrastructure for the foreign universities, they should utilize that money in sending the students out which can allow them to come across many culture through which they learn many moral values too. I think it shouldn’t be allowed because the foreign universities don’t give their best teachers to India as they are willing to set up schools and colleges in India only for only businness point of view. They are not interested in making children of other countries capable of competing with their students. I support the poractice of students going out for higher studies because they get a different environment and culture there which givrw them the opportunity to learn to adjust with th surrounding. But living in India and attending foreign schools and colleges gives no meaning at all. We can get the same or even better education in India even in our own schools and colleges.
If our government wants the students to get higher qualifications then, instead of wasting money in setting up infrastructure for the foreign universities, they should utilize that money in sending the students out which can allow them to come across many culture through which they learn many moral values too.

]]> Comment on Plain Vanilla B.Sc.? by Ishiqa jagtap http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=39&cpage=1#comment-304 Ishiqa jagtap Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:14:16 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=39#comment-304 THOSE WHO HAVE SELF CONFIDENCE, SHOULD APPLY FOR DEGREE COURSES.OTHERS SHOULD PREFER PLAIN VANILLA BSC. IF A PERSON PUTS 100% EFFORTS IN THIS FIELD, THEN NO ONE CAN STOP FROM GAINING SUCCESS! BUT ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT AFTER DOING BSC, ITS NECCESARY TO DO MSC AND IF POSSSIBLE PHD. WHILE DOING BSC, ITS BETTER TO PREFER DOING NIT COURSE.THIS COUSE WILL BE A BONUS TO ONES CAREER! FINALLY I WOULD CONCLUDE THAT PLAIN BSC IS A GOOD OPTION IF DONE WITH FULL DEDICATION! THOSE WHO HAVE SELF CONFIDENCE, SHOULD APPLY FOR DEGREE COURSES.OTHERS SHOULD PREFER PLAIN VANILLA BSC. IF A PERSON PUTS 100% EFFORTS IN THIS FIELD, THEN NO ONE CAN STOP FROM GAINING SUCCESS! BUT ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT AFTER DOING BSC, ITS NECCESARY TO DO MSC AND IF POSSSIBLE PHD. WHILE DOING BSC, ITS BETTER TO PREFER DOING NIT COURSE.THIS COUSE WILL BE A BONUS TO ONES CAREER! FINALLY I WOULD CONCLUDE THAT PLAIN BSC IS A GOOD OPTION IF DONE WITH FULL DEDICATION!

]]> Comment on For profit? by Ayan http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=166&cpage=1#comment-287 Ayan Wed, 05 May 2010 04:48:41 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=166#comment-287 For profit institutions are there in education sector already- though in disguise. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu together have the largest population of private engineering and management colleges- majority owned by politicians. The northern part of the country has seen birth of a host of “private universities” in last few years- ownership can be traced back to the same clan. The initial money is often full of sugar or mining dust, which later on turns dust free. Apart from the “development fees”, most of these colleges charge high tuition fees but invest least in faculty and knowledge development. As a result placement record stays in the range of 25% to 33%. Such institutions thrive on mediocre students who find it difficult to obtain a reasonable score in entrance exams. Therefore, the government faces a hard job in allowing “for profit” organizations to enter the higher education space, as the devil lies in its own backyard. Education sector needs an overall reform, something similar to what our economy had gone through in early nineties. If organizations set up institutions with an eye on profit, there has to be a regulator like TRAI or IRDA or SEBI to oversee that the quality of education is not compromised. At the same time large corporate groups will see a huge opportunity- even with a conversion ratio of 1:5 the market size by 2014 will be 76 millions. That’s a number good enough for a lot of companies to start making capital investments. Hope right sense will prevail at the right time with the government. For profit institutions are there in education sector already- though in disguise. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu together have the largest population of private engineering and management colleges- majority owned by politicians. The northern part of the country has seen birth of a host of “private universities” in last few years- ownership can be traced back to the same clan. The initial money is often full of sugar or mining dust, which later on turns dust free. Apart from the “development fees”, most of these colleges charge high tuition fees but invest least in faculty and knowledge development. As a result placement record stays in the range of 25% to 33%. Such institutions thrive on mediocre students who find it difficult to obtain a reasonable score in entrance exams. Therefore, the government faces a hard job in allowing “for profit” organizations to enter the higher education space, as the devil lies in its own backyard.

Education sector needs an overall reform, something similar to what our economy had gone through in early nineties. If organizations set up institutions with an eye on profit, there has to be a regulator like TRAI or IRDA or SEBI to oversee that the quality of education is not compromised. At the same time large corporate groups will see a huge opportunity- even with a conversion ratio of 1:5 the market size by 2014 will be 76 millions. That’s a number good enough for a lot of companies to start making capital investments.

Hope right sense will prevail at the right time with the government.

]]> Comment on So, where is the money? by Ayan http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-280 Ayan Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:50:01 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=164#comment-280 The gap clearly is huge, but the government can initiate a few small steps towards fulfilling it. To start with, bring in an education bond with a guaranteed return -a little higher than prevailing bank FD rates. And provide certain benefits like deduction from taxable income and tax free maturity. A similar gesture has been shown towards infrastructure bonds in budget 2010. If it becomes a “compulsory option”, significant percentage of India’s tax paying population of 3 crore will get attracted. For greater Public Private Partnership, government can offer tax benefit for investments in primary education in backward areas. Companies need not look at this exercise only as CSR, but also as a business opportunity. Primary education needs minimal investment in terms of infrastructure; in return it offers considerable volume. Companies need to see this as an opportunity to “educate the mass, profitably”. Right to education will need some wishful thinking government’s part- hope it has started by now. The gap clearly is huge, but the government can initiate a few small steps towards fulfilling it. To start with, bring in an education bond with a guaranteed return -a little higher than prevailing bank FD rates. And provide certain benefits like deduction from taxable income and tax free maturity. A similar gesture has been shown towards infrastructure bonds in budget 2010. If it becomes a “compulsory option”, significant percentage of India’s tax paying population of 3 crore will get attracted.

For greater Public Private Partnership, government can offer tax benefit for investments in primary education in backward areas. Companies need not look at this exercise only as CSR, but also as a business opportunity. Primary education needs minimal investment in terms of infrastructure; in return it offers considerable volume. Companies need to see this as an opportunity to “educate the mass, profitably”.

Right to education will need some wishful thinking government’s part- hope it has started by now.

]]> Comment on Are EXAMS optional? by AYUSHI http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=100&cpage=1#comment-279 AYUSHI Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:05:30 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=100#comment-279 sir, i request u to tell cce system by mr.sibal in detail sir, i request u to tell cce system by mr.sibal in detail

]]> Comment on Hey Teacher! by Ayan http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=161&cpage=1#comment-276 Ayan Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:50:46 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=161#comment-276 Government should indeed adopt a PPP model in teacher training, starting from primary going up to secondary education. Because the huge increment in primary student base will have an effect on secondary education scenario also. The 8 million who don’t visit a school (in your previous blog) will now have access to primary education and even if 20% of them opt for secondary education, our secondary system will see a rise of 1.6 million students. The country’s need for 630,000 teachers for primary in next 2 yrs opens up an excellent opportunity for organizations in allied education business. This also gives them a chance to enhance their contribution towards society. Apart from setting up institutions for teacher training, there can be a huge opportunity to assess these teachers before and after the training. In future, if these institutes start getting more applicants than they can handle, there will be an opportunity for creating a national level entrance test of all applicants. Similarly there can be a national level recruitment test for teachers (like we have UGC-NET for college teachers), because a robust teacher recruitment process is an essential condition for having a fundamentally strong education system. Government should indeed adopt a PPP model in teacher training, starting from primary going up to secondary education. Because the huge increment in primary student base will have an effect on secondary education scenario also. The 8 million who don’t visit a school (in your previous blog) will now have access to primary education and even if 20% of them opt for secondary education, our secondary system will see a rise of 1.6 million students.

The country’s need for 630,000 teachers for primary in next 2 yrs opens up an excellent opportunity for organizations in allied education business. This also gives them a chance to enhance their contribution towards society. Apart from setting up institutions for teacher training, there can be a huge opportunity to assess these teachers before and after the training. In future, if these institutes start getting more applicants than they can handle, there will be an opportunity for creating a national level entrance test of all applicants. Similarly there can be a national level recruitment test for teachers (like we have UGC-NET for college teachers), because a robust teacher recruitment process is an essential condition for having a fundamentally strong education system.

]]> Comment on Revolution larger than Telecom? by Ayan http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=151&cpage=1#comment-259 Ayan Sun, 28 Mar 2010 08:51:13 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=151#comment-259 Foreign universities could help raise the bar in management and technical education. The best b-schools of the world are located in US and Europe. For example the Singapore campus of INSEAD has opened up the opportunity to pursue world class management education for a large student population of South n East Asia. Similarly an India campus of MIT will provide a great research and development opportunities to our technology gradutes. There can even be collaboration on areas like English and other foreign languages. There is a wider market for Indian IT companies in Germany,Scandinavian countries and Spain which have largely remain unexplored for language barriers. All we need is a strict regulatory mechanism like we have in Indian insurance market (IRDA). With proper quality control, foreign education providers will for sure change the rules of the game. Yes, the vested interest of a lot of politicans will play a big hindrance befor the bill becomes a law. Foreign universities could help raise the bar in management and technical education. The best b-schools of the world are located in US and Europe. For example the Singapore campus of INSEAD has opened up the opportunity to pursue world class management education for a large student population of South n East Asia. Similarly an India campus of MIT will provide a great research and development opportunities to our technology gradutes. There can even be collaboration on areas like English and other foreign languages. There is a wider market for Indian IT companies in Germany,Scandinavian countries and Spain which have largely remain unexplored for language barriers.
All we need is a strict regulatory mechanism like we have in Indian insurance market (IRDA). With proper quality control, foreign education providers will for sure change the rules of the game. Yes, the vested interest of a lot of politicans will play a big hindrance befor the bill becomes a law.

]]> Comment on What is NABET? by Abhishek Kumar Pandey http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=114&cpage=1#comment-257 Abhishek Kumar Pandey Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:20:44 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=114#comment-257 Really the information is very good. But i would like to know something more from you. Actually i'm going for ISME b'lore which is accreated by NABET (PGPM) not by AICTE. Do the higher studies courses are also approved by NABET? Will there be any problem in joining the public sector? Please let me know! I would be highly obilised to you. Really the information is very good. But i would like to know something more from you. Actually i’m going for ISME b’lore which is accreated by NABET (PGPM) not by AICTE. Do the higher studies courses are also approved by NABET? Will there be any problem in joining the public sector? Please let me know! I would be highly obilised to you.

]]> Comment on Employable? by post secondary schooling http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=138&cpage=1#comment-243 post secondary schooling Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:06:57 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=138#comment-243 [...] be used for post-secondary schooling. You are locked into the investments chosen by the plan ...Employable? | Reforming EducationThere have been many reports which suggest that only one in four graduates from colleges in India is [...] [...] be used for post-secondary schooling. You are locked into the investments chosen by the plan …Employable? | Reforming EducationThere have been many reports which suggest that only one in four graduates from colleges in India is [...]

]]> Comment on Budget – A lost opportunity for education sector? by Ayan http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-226 Ayan Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:20:44 +0000 http://www.reformingeducation.in/?p=144#comment-226 Taking a cue from you, would like to say that this budget could have spelt out the responsibilities of government in primary and secondary education. On the other hand, higher education should have been opened up for greater corporate participation. Government needs to build the base by investing into primary education, not by subsidizing IITs and IIMs. The funds for higher education should come from market, by the companies who would like to “teach people profitably”. Let higher education be a matter of choice, people who are able to pay the course fees should pay it in full. Subsidies if any should only be available in forms of soft loan as you said to people in lower income groups. The current rate of 11% to 15 % for educational loans is not sustainable for majority of the students, such loans needs to be treated in a different angle as you have mentioned. In the fields of primary and secondary education, government should increase its funding substantially. There is a clear divide between students going to government schools vise-a-vie those going to private ones; unless government brings both of them in balance it will only weaken the social infrastructure. Students learn the vital basics in these years and bank upon that for the rest of their lives. First 10 years of school education becomes the base point for any future career. A well formulated approach towards basic education, at least upto 10th standard will be the answer towards bridging the difference between education and employability. Taking a cue from you, would like to say that this budget could have spelt out the responsibilities of government in primary and secondary education. On the other hand, higher education should have been opened up for greater corporate participation. Government needs to build the base by investing into primary education, not by subsidizing IITs and IIMs. The funds for higher education should come from market, by the companies who would like to “teach people profitably”. Let higher education be a matter of choice, people who are able to pay the course fees should pay it in full. Subsidies if any should only be available in forms of soft loan as you said to people in lower income groups. The current rate of 11% to 15 % for educational loans is not sustainable for majority of the students, such loans needs to be treated in a different angle as you have mentioned.

In the fields of primary and secondary education, government should increase its funding substantially. There is a clear divide between students going to government schools vise-a-vie those going to private ones; unless government brings both of them in balance it will only weaken the social infrastructure. Students learn the vital basics in these years and bank upon that for the rest of their lives. First 10 years of school education becomes the base point for any future career. A well formulated approach towards basic education, at least upto 10th standard will be the answer towards bridging the difference between education and employability.

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