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Education@India is striving hard to offer the best to its students. Today, it is not only government, public and private bodies who are pitching in, but the corporate world is also joining the race as a form of social corporate responsibility or motivated by business

Pallavee Dhaundiyal Panthry

    As a tradition, education in India is looked upon quite holistically, especially with reference to the traditional Gurukul system. The education system is too formal and competitive now with a plethora of opportunities for students. India currently has the world's largest youth population and also the largest education market, which makes imperative the need to prepare and plan for an education that produces a world class, competent and skilled force
    Responding to the need of the hour, The Times of India, recently organised an education conference, titled, 'EDUCATIONext - The Way forward', in the Capital, recently, in association with IMT Ghaziabad, HSBC and Orris. The day long event offered a platform to eminent academicians, scholars, educationists, teachers, NGOs and many big names from the corporate world, to discuss the roadmap for future education vis a vis industry needs in India.
    The conference was kick-started by Ranjan Roy, associate Editor, The Times of India, who gave a brief on the day's proceedings and welcomed the participants. While giving the inaugural address, Kapil Sibal, Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India, chief guest of the event, said: "Providing quality education with opportunities in abundance is our foremost goal. We have to build a highway for a child. Which way he wants to drive, that's the child's wish."
    He further added, "The government aims to design courses of national standard across all subjects, across the country. We will soon roll such courses in the vocational fields like retail, reality, design and automobile. Besides, it's not the sole responsibility of Government to offer quality education at all levels, private institutions and corporate should also pitch in, partner and share the mammoth task of providing high quality education to all. Education shouldn't be looked as burden by private bodies; it should be understood as inclusive."
    The conference was spread over fours sessions throughout the day. The sessions deliberated on India as education superpower of future and the pathway to progress.
    The first session elaborated on leveraging opportunity and how higher education can help India shape world future; designing social system of inclusive education - 'Education for All' ; and new hybrid teaching models and methods, and discussion on role of PPP. Sharing his thoughts in the first session, Pawan Aggarwal, advisor higher education, Planning Commission of India, said: "Next five to 10 years in education would be crucial. Government can support in fiscal way and appoint more teachers. The main challenges would be quality in higher education and integration of technology in education."
    "Leveraging technology in higher education space is a major task and will ease life in schools, colleges and institutions. Technology will definitely be a key driver in fulfilling India's 'education for all' dream", added Sandhya, executive director, Sector Skills Council. She added, "We are looking at integrating technology in three areas: higher education space; setting up of standards; and in the accreditation area. We will soon present our project report to the government."
    The most pertinent subject of discussion was an inclusive pattern of education. Are we creating a parallel educational economy in India? What about synergies between education institutions and industries, at state and central levels? Shyama Chona, educationist, took up paradoxes, confusions and obstacles in education in India. "We are six decades late in education. But we need to gear up, because if not now then never. This year, we will have 10 crore children passing out from elementary education and moving to secondary education. But do we have provisions to offer quality education to them? Government has to help, but it wants partners to chip in." Taking a dig at the government's role, the speakers dwelled in length about what our government is offering and what it could have had offered. Making a comparison between education in India and the Western Countries, Dr Arun Mohan Sherry, director, IMT CDL, said: "Australia offers 70 per cent scholarships in education, US offers 50 per cent and India, only two per cent. Talking about interest rates on education loans, India asks for 11.75 per cent, while in Australia it is only 2.5 per cent and in UK and US, it varies between 3 and 3.5 per cent."
    Besides, we have over regulation in distance education. "Amazingly, there are more than 10 million students studying in open learning and distance education institutions. The worst news is since past one and a half years, there is no regular vice chancellor to look after distance learning in India. This is the state of education in our country", lamented Sherry.
    Dwelling on roadmap for the future, the speakers talked about expanding horizons and plugging gaps in education system. They discussed initiatives for collaborations, strategies for change and solutions to meet future needs. "Industry and academics must come together and collaborate to offer best human resource. Besides, we need as many as partnerships as possible", Vineet Joshi, Chairman, CBSE.
    The academicians were of opinion that industry intervention must start from the secondary level to strike a balance between theoretical and practical aspects of learning. But are industries keen to partner even at the higher education level? Institutions say industries do not partner and industries say the students are not up to the mark. "Neither industry nor institution should blame each other. Rather both should work together to produce the best of human resource. Industries must communicate to institutions what skills and learning they require", said A K Biswas, senior professor, IMT Ghaziabad.
    Sharing his views on platforms such as EDUCATIONext, Stuart P Milne, CEO, HSBC India, "India is home to one of the world's largest
youth populations. Universalising access to higher education, and providing skill training are matters of utmost importance today. Platforms such as Education- Next, we believe, are critical as they provide the space for government and industry to initiate a discussion and find viable ways to strive for an improved and inclusive education system, and expand employment opportunities."