Dear Students,
LAST WEEK WE ASKED:
Would you subscribe to N R Narayana Murthy's view that quality of 80 per cent of IIT students is not as good?
BEST RESPONSE
It's true that the quality of students at IITs have deteriorated. We can't blame coaching institutes for all these things, Because students went to private coaching institutes simply because they don't find the school education system up to the mark for the JEE. If poor quality students, as felt by Narayan Murthy were able to get into the IITs, it was the responsibility of the joint entrance examination committee. It is because of the lack of knowledge about the IITs' pattern that the students have to run around the coaching institutes.
- Amit Kumar, Amity Business School, Noida
OTHER RESPONSES
IITs are among top institutes where students get in after clearing the entrance exams which are not very easy to crack. But thanks to coaching classes, they have made it easier. Hence quality of students should not be blamed but the procedure by which the students are selected should be altered. Independent thinking of students should be evaluated instead of their ability to solve problems. Their decision making skills, practical knowledge and technical know-how should be evaluated.
- Anusha Desai, Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad
The quality of students which IITs used to produce has deteriorated since last few years. The core reasons which are responsible for it include reservation quotas and coaching classes. Coaching classes just teach them to crack the exams, not teaching to apply their mind. On the other hand, candidates getting fewer marks in the entrance exams are still getting admitted in the IITs due to reservation system. But they are not able to meet the high working standards of IIT. Only 20 per cent are making their admission count, while rest are dipping the standards of IITs.
- Kunal Sukhdev Patel, CK Shah Vijapurwala Institute of Management, Vadodara
Some of the IIT students might not be as good as there is always certain scope for students undergoing coaching classes.The coaching institutes have vast experience of past IIT papers so they easily train students according to that pattern.They give sufficient practice to students of various questions and time limit. So the intelligent students have a chance to enter the IITs with their hard work. Along with that their is quota for certain students. These factors result in degrading the reputation of IITs as a world renowned institute.
- Shivam Chhabra, Integral University, Lucknow
It is not fair on Murthy's part to blame the deteriorating quality of the students for their poor performance at jobs and global institutions of higher education. One cannot rule out the possibility of the deteriorating quality of IIT education. IITs are responsible for the advancement of knowledge through education and research required to produce a competent research scientist of high calibre. However there is hardly any worthwhile research at the IITs and the faculty there is not world class.
- Khushboo Banthia, Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad (MICA)
The statement should be looked at-to reflect on this disconnect, and the case of IITians was taken up because IIT being the pioneering engineering institute in the country, is expected to provide the best quality engineers, but they are also crushing under pressure. Although, I do not completely agree with Murthy attributing this to the various coaching institutes, because at the end of the day the base problem is not in the quality of students entering IIT but how well versed; equipped and prepared are they for the working world when they are leaving IIT.
- Nandita Srivastava, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune
Though IITs have undergone major change in recent years, a major intake to IIT-JEE comes from coaching institutes, which teaches pattern recognition to students, So students are not necessarily the brightest, they are just zombie after two year at coaching institute. Moreover government policies such as that on reservations – have prevented the institutes from aiming for global standards. The fault lies not just with the coaching institute but with the entire education system.
- Nilaya Mitash Shanker, Shri Ram Swaroop Memorial College Of Engineering And Management (SRMCEM), Lucknow
There are no parameters to set the dividing line between the upper strata and the mediocre strata of students. Though it can be said that due to certain setbacks like change in paper pattern has affected the quality of students at IIT. But the 5,000 students being selected are at par and are in every way logically and analytically superior than the best of the minds of the world. Moreover, to underestimate our own students shouldn't be the approach. Rather Murthy should suggest ways to improve the deteriorating condition of the prestigious institution as he feels that 8 out of 10 students are not worthy enough.
- Nandish Agarwal, Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology, Greater Noida
In the current scheme of things, Murthy's views seem to hold some truth. Unlike past years, now students dream to get into the IITs not because of their innate love for engineering but for the fact that they find it to be a necessary stop before hopping on to much more lucrative financial/banking sectors.They view it as a stepping stone to reach management schools,business firms and ultimately fatter pay packages. With this mindset it is no wonder that IITs have failed to provide an impetus to their nearby industries through research work unlike their western counterparts.
- Rahul Gautam, IIIT, Delhi
Your responses should reach us at edu@businessstandard.com by Monday evening every week. Please ensure that your responses do not exceed 100 words. Avoid attachments and email your full name, institute's name, batch and complete mailing address. The student who gives the 'Best Response' will be awarded Rs 500.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
In the light of the TASMAC event, do you think domestic education is safer than overseas education for Indian students? Why?
