 "Only select few in elite universities avail of the NET fellowship: Disha Nawani")
The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently announced a decision to scrap non-NET fellowships, which were awarded to those pursuing M.Phil and PhD in central universities. This angered students who gathered to protest at the commission’s headquarters and in universities across New Delhi and some other cities. Disha Nawani, professor and chairperson at the School of Education, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, speaks to Ranjita Ganesan about the impact of the decision.
What is the significance of non-NET fellowships?
The NET fellowship offered by UGC through its centralised examination held twice a year is one of the few scholarships that are available to research scholars for pursuing higher education in India. Besides the fact, that it is determined by an examination which ‘eliminates’ more people than it ‘selects’, the nature of the examination is also seriously flawed. Several analyses of its question papers and ‘successful’ dependence of students on cheap guides available for clearing the exam have shown that not all students showing research aptitude or skills qualify the exam. A superficial, exam-oriented approach, which celebrates one ‘correct’ answer, logic for which is often not comprehensible, but ‘learnt’ nevertheless, is on most occasions found adequate for ‘cracking’ the exam.
Those genuinely pursuing research often find themselves lacking in such quick-fix skills and are left high and dry, wondering how to equip themselves better for the next attempt. Under such circumstances, the non-NET fellowships provide a welcome breather. They are offered to M.Phil. and Ph.D students from all Central universities. The amount is given to Ph.D students for a period of four years and M.Phil students for 18 months. Besides the monthly grant of 8000 and 5000 respectively, they also receive an annual contingency grant. Needless to say, a large number of students, who are unable to clear the exam for reasons, not necessarily located in their own incompetence are therefore benefitted by this research grant.
What would their scrapping mean? How many students could be impacted by this?
Frankly, I won’t know the numbers but I would assume they would be substantial. I can literally count the select few in elite universities in metropolitan cities, who avail of the NET fellowship. Besides numbers, what is more important is the social composition of these students. One need not reiterate that such beneficiaries are from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds and despite lacking the wherewithal to clear the UGC exam, maybe competent and committed to research and therefore, need to be supported.
Scholarships of Rs 5000-8000 per month, indicated by some reports, seem like a fairly small amount but how important is it for research scholars? Does it enable more students to access higher education?
It is true that the amount offered by such fellowships is not huge and much lesser than the UGC Fellowship, considering that it is often used to cover out-station students’ boarding, lodging, travel needs besides purely academic needs such as purchase of books, photocopy and print outs of relevant reading material etc. However, to say that it’s too small to make any significant contribution towards addressing their financial needs would also not be correct. It is symbolic of state support of young research scholars who will pave the way for new knowledge in the country across disciplinary domains. More so, the government instead of increasing the stipend in lieu of actual costs of pursuing research, is further reducing it.
What could have driven UGC’s decision?
This decision needs to be situated both within the neo-liberal times we are living in, which recognises the role of market over the agency of the state and also the language of efficiency and accountability etc. that urges public education system to be looked at in such narrow terms. It is not the least unexpected and this has been happening across all sectors of education, where the state is shrinking its responsibility towards the poor and offering them lesser options in the name of alternatives and allowing the market to offer differently priced education to people depending on their paying capacity. India has always had a multi-layered system of education with differential opportunities for people positioned differently in its socio-economic ladder. Lesser alternatives in the name of education and withdrawal of state subsidies and support get justified in the name of enhancing competition and promoting quality.
Some speculate that the move is aimed at aligning with requirements for signing of the WTO-GATS on higher education. Your view?
Quite possible! The shift from universalising elementary education to providinga shorter cycle of primary education, low-cost alternatives and contractual teachers etc. in the elementary education was also influenced by global trends which encouraged privatisation and reduction of government’s role. Based on media reports, I believe, that the Indian government is in the process of negotiations with WTO-GATS to commit Indian higher education as a tradable service. Once this happens, the government will be forced to cut subsidies to state funded universities. The WTO regime necessitates level playing field for Indian/foreign and public/private educational institutes and it’s in this context that such a move has to be seen.
Your thoughts on the state of academic research? Does it need more support from the government?
Research as compared to other professions is a long tedious journey, unsure of its outcomes and still low in social hierarchy. Most central Universities have a fairly rigorous entrance system to register for such programmes and havestringent course requirements. A large constituency of such students come from difficult backgrounds and want to do research despite several odds. It is only fair to expect that such students are supported by the government.
Students are up in protest in New Delhi and other cities. How might this play out?
Guess it’s quite natural that students across different locations will join the movement but we will have to wait and watch for government’s response to popular pressure.
What is the significance of non-NET fellowships?
The NET fellowship offered by UGC through its centralised examination held twice a year is one of the few scholarships that are available to research scholars for pursuing higher education in India. Besides the fact, that it is determined by an examination which ‘eliminates’ more people than it ‘selects’, the nature of the examination is also seriously flawed. Several analyses of its question papers and ‘successful’ dependence of students on cheap guides available for clearing the exam have shown that not all students showing research aptitude or skills qualify the exam. A superficial, exam-oriented approach, which celebrates one ‘correct’ answer, logic for which is often not comprehensible, but ‘learnt’ nevertheless, is on most occasions found adequate for ‘cracking’ the exam.
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What would their scrapping mean? How many students could be impacted by this?
Frankly, I won’t know the numbers but I would assume they would be substantial. I can literally count the select few in elite universities in metropolitan cities, who avail of the NET fellowship. Besides numbers, what is more important is the social composition of these students. One need not reiterate that such beneficiaries are from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds and despite lacking the wherewithal to clear the UGC exam, maybe competent and committed to research and therefore, need to be supported.
Scholarships of Rs 5000-8000 per month, indicated by some reports, seem like a fairly small amount but how important is it for research scholars? Does it enable more students to access higher education?
It is true that the amount offered by such fellowships is not huge and much lesser than the UGC Fellowship, considering that it is often used to cover out-station students’ boarding, lodging, travel needs besides purely academic needs such as purchase of books, photocopy and print outs of relevant reading material etc. However, to say that it’s too small to make any significant contribution towards addressing their financial needs would also not be correct. It is symbolic of state support of young research scholars who will pave the way for new knowledge in the country across disciplinary domains. More so, the government instead of increasing the stipend in lieu of actual costs of pursuing research, is further reducing it.
What could have driven UGC’s decision?
This decision needs to be situated both within the neo-liberal times we are living in, which recognises the role of market over the agency of the state and also the language of efficiency and accountability etc. that urges public education system to be looked at in such narrow terms. It is not the least unexpected and this has been happening across all sectors of education, where the state is shrinking its responsibility towards the poor and offering them lesser options in the name of alternatives and allowing the market to offer differently priced education to people depending on their paying capacity. India has always had a multi-layered system of education with differential opportunities for people positioned differently in its socio-economic ladder. Lesser alternatives in the name of education and withdrawal of state subsidies and support get justified in the name of enhancing competition and promoting quality.
Some speculate that the move is aimed at aligning with requirements for signing of the WTO-GATS on higher education. Your view?
Quite possible! The shift from universalising elementary education to providinga shorter cycle of primary education, low-cost alternatives and contractual teachers etc. in the elementary education was also influenced by global trends which encouraged privatisation and reduction of government’s role. Based on media reports, I believe, that the Indian government is in the process of negotiations with WTO-GATS to commit Indian higher education as a tradable service. Once this happens, the government will be forced to cut subsidies to state funded universities. The WTO regime necessitates level playing field for Indian/foreign and public/private educational institutes and it’s in this context that such a move has to be seen.
Your thoughts on the state of academic research? Does it need more support from the government?
Research as compared to other professions is a long tedious journey, unsure of its outcomes and still low in social hierarchy. Most central Universities have a fairly rigorous entrance system to register for such programmes and havestringent course requirements. A large constituency of such students come from difficult backgrounds and want to do research despite several odds. It is only fair to expect that such students are supported by the government.
Students are up in protest in New Delhi and other cities. How might this play out?
Guess it’s quite natural that students across different locations will join the movement but we will have to wait and watch for government’s response to popular pressure.