Page 266 - DEDU501_DEVELOPMENT_OF_EDUCATION_SYSTEM_ENGLISH

Development of Education System

Notes Other sources of finances suggested include licensing fees or user charges (for facilities in
universities used by people from outside) and private investment. The NKC recommends that
to attract more (not-for-profit) private investment to set up new institutions in higher education,
the government should provide the land and the private sector should provide the finances. In
today’s world, there is no private investment which is “not-for-profit.” All these
recommendations will instead decrease the enrolment.
27.4.4 Quality
It is claimed that the competition between institutions within India and outside India would
enhance quality and accountability. Foreign universities are coming to India to earn profits and
loot our students. The report points out, good institutions are not coming to India as they “care
more about their autonomy and wish to set benchmarks for themselves.” And therefore, the
NKC recommends that “all rules that apply to domestic institutions should also be applicable
to foreign institutions.” How can the rules under which the domestic institutions are funded by
the government be applicable for foreign institutions? This will dismantle our public funded
education system. Actually, the foreign universities should not be allowed to set up their
branches in the country. The foreign and Indian universities should continue to have exchange
programmes as is being done now.
For ensuring quality, it further recommends “salary differentials within and between universities
as a means of attracting and retaining talented faculty members. The salary differentiation will
help retain talent in some disciplines where remuneration in the market is much higher than in
other subjects.” Though the universities cannot compete with salaries elsewhere, but “they
should endeavour to provide a comfortable minimum for all, with some premium for those
who perform.” This happens in a market-model university. The departments that make money,
study money or attract money are given priority. Heads of universities and departments assume
the role of travelling salesmen to promote their programmes. In such a model, the disciplines
essential for a good liberal education such as social sciences, humanities and basic sciences
remain at a discount. Such proposals will further weaken our education system.
27.4.5 National Universities
In order to increase the gross enrolment, the NKC recommends the creation of up to 50 national
universities that can provide education of the highest standard. At least ten such universities in
the next three years should be created. The national universities need not all be new universities.
Each university may be endowed with a substantial allocation of public land, in excess of its
spatial requirements. The excess land can be a subsequent source of income generation, its
value rising over time due to the growing stature of the university. In the case of privately
executed charitable trusts, exceptions need to be made in existing income tax laws to encourage
large endowments. These universities shall have the autonomy to set student fee levels and tap
other sources for generating funds such as industry collaborations, overseas operations, as also
commercial use of university facilities.
It is clear from the above that these universities would be high fee charging universities catering
to the rich, generating its own resources, apart from others, through commercial use of university
facilities. In order to this impression, the NKC proposes “a host of scholarships, freeships,
bursaries and awards for economically disadvantaged students.” This generally never happens!
In order to “maximise the productivity of faculty”, there shall be “salary differentials between
national universities and also between disciplines.” There shall be “no career advancement
schemes and appointments at every level shall be through open competition.” This is a pure
private model that must be opposed.

260 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY