New Delhi, April 22: Expressing concern at the deteriorating education system in the country, the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) has suggested to the Prime Minister a slew of measures, including doing away with bureaucrats heading educational and technical institutions in the country to improve the situation.
Prof CNR Rao, chairman of the SAC made a presentation before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday on how the higher education system in the country was on the verge of destruction if adequate and timely steps were not taken.
“The administration of the education system requires a serious overhaul. The indifferent manner with which educational institutions are being handled may destroy even the system that we have. What is unfortunate is that educational and research institutions are administered by people with IAS or similar administrative backgrounds, many without any real interest in education,” noted the report.
It has stressed on the policy makers to re-look at the entire examination system including the system of final examinations, entrance examinations, qualifying examinations, selection examinations, and so on. “For entrance examinations related to admission to higher education institutions, there should be only one national examination which should be able to assess the eligibility of the candidates. It should be noted that US institutions take young people from India based on one GRE examination.”
High-quality continuing education and training programmes for teachers at all levels should be provided on a massive scale, while in order to tap the talent and provide opportunities to young children in rural India, we must increase the number of fully supported residential schools up to higher secondary level in rural India, says the report..
The report also suggested that the State Governments need to be persuaded to support higher education with greater care as well as investment. “Administrative autonomy, dedicated budget for R&D, recruitment and promotion of faculty are some of the other issues that require attention.”
–Agencies–