Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal is right when he says India must allow foreign universities to establish their campuses here. This will ensure that Indian students do not have to go abroad for degrees — according to Sibal, India spends nearly Rs 100,000 crore each year on foreign campuses. It is not fully certain, though that foreign universities will set up full campuses in India — most will offer just abridged courses, or perhaps stick to offering courses like BBAs and MBAs. Why not remove the restrictions imposed on Indian institutions which wish to offer quality courses? If the Indian School of Business chooses to offer its MBA courses without certification from the All India Council for Technical Education, it tells you the regulatory system is the real issue that the minister needs to tackle.
The other issue which the minister needs to find a solution to is that of the high drop-out ratio. The ministry’s focus, so far, has been on getting more children into school, but unless the drop-out ratios come down, all the money invested will be a waste. Principals of schools and universities have to be empowered to be able to hire better teachers and to fire those that do not perform. Budget grants and salaries of teachers must be linked to performance of schools and colleges.
Sanjeev Choubey, Noida