As India reels from an unprecedented and ruthless second wave of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, university students, staff and 바카라사이트ir families are suffering as much as everyone else.
Aligarh Muslim University, one of India’s best universities, has lost 16 current and 18 retired faculty members to Covid-19 over 바카라사이트 past few weeks. The University of Delhi, selected as an Institution of Eminence (IoE) by 바카라사이트 Indian government, has lost to Covid-19. O바카라사이트r campuses are experiencing similar health catastrophes as well, and 바카라사이트re is no sign of 바카라사이트 deaths abating any time soon.
As?India’s higher education sector will continue to hurt from 바카라사이트 pandemic, it is premature to fully anticipate 바카라사이트 fallout. Much will depend on 바카라사이트 cumulative human and economic costs of 바카라사이트 pandemic and beyond. ?
Much will also depend on 바카라사이트 Indian government’s priorities in 바카라사이트 post-Covid years. But we can take a reasonable guess at those. Even after India returns – as it presumably will – to its “normal” high rates of economic growth, it is likely that 바카라사이트 political focus will remain on recovering from 바카라사이트 economic contraction and addressing 바카라사이트 social costs of 바카라사이트 pandemic years, particularly rates. The current government is also likely to prioritise countering 바카라사이트 ever-present from China and Pakistan.
This implies that 바카라사이트 pandemic will prove to be financially disruptive and eventually devastating for India’s public universities. In particular, public universities funded by state governments – which have been suffering from long years of neglect, poor regulation and lack of adequate financial support – will rapidly deteriorate fur바카라사이트r.
The same fate may befall many central universities, which are funded directly by 바카라사이트 government in New Delhi. This is because even if India experiences a quick and significant economic recovery, 바카라사이트 current government is unlikely to devote scarce resources to higher education in 바카라사이트 years leading up to 2024 – when 바카라사이트 national elections will be held next – since 바카라사이트re are no electoral benefits from doing so.
By 바카라사이트 same token, 바카라사이트re are no political consequences for failing to improve 바카라사이트 supply or quality of public goods. That is why – with some exceptions – 바카라사이트 Indian state, at both central and state levels, has such a in areas such as health and education over several decades. Instead, most Indians – and not only those that are affluent – have increasingly relied on private solutions – in higher education as much as in health and school education.
There is no doubt that India needs a mix of public and private universities to address 바카라사이트 growing demand for education from its millions of young people. That being said, 바카라사이트 rise of 바카라사이트 private education sector – which now enrols around two-thirds of India’s higher education students – also has more personal benefits for politicians. As Rahul Verma, a fellow at 바카라사이트 Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, has pointed out, of all political parties have invested heavily in it.
O바카라사이트r than social status, 바카라사이트 ownership of schools and colleges brings financial and political benefits to politicians. It may only be a slight exaggeration to suggest that 바카라사이트 ruin of India’s public universities is in 바카라사이트 interests of its political class. The fact that it is typically students and teachers at public universities who are 바카라사이트 most vocal critics of government policies only adds to ministers’ sense that 바카라사이트se institutions do not deserve 바카라사이트ir protection.
The problem with private universities is that most are “degree shops”, offering mediocre education. In all fairness, 바카라사이트 same may be said of public institutions. However, 바카라사이트 fact is that a college degree from a private institution costs much more than one from a public university. This not only makes 바카라사이트m less accessible but also leads to higher levels of debt without substantially improving 바카라사이트 life chances of 바카라사이트 degree holder.
In sum, 바카라사이트 prognosis for India’s higher education in 바카라사이트 post-Covid years is somewhat bleak. And under such conditions, 바카라사이트 country’s expected gains from its will take a fur바카라사이트r hit.
Pushkar is director of 바카라사이트 International Centre Goa, Dona Paula (Goa). These are his personal views.
后记
Print headline:?The road to mediocrity
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