Higher Education in India: Issues and Challenges

India's higher education system is the world's third largest in terms of students, next to China and the United States. In future, India will be one of the largest education hubs. India's Higher Education sector has witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of Universities/University level Institutions & Colleges since independence. The ‗Right to Education Act‘ which stipulates compulsory and free education to all children within the age groups of 6-14 years, has brought about a revolution in the education system of the country with statistics revealing a staggering enrolment in schools over the last four years. The involvement of private sector in higher education has seen drastic changes in the field. Today over 60% of higher education institutions in India are promoted by the private sector. This has accelerated establishment of institutes which have originated over the last decade making India home to the largest number of Higher Education institutions in the world, with student enrolments at the second highest (Shaguri, 2013).The number of Universities has increased 34 times from 20 in 1950 to 677 in 2014. Despite these numbers, international education rating agencies have not placed many of these institutions within the best of the world ranking. Also, India has failed to produce world class universities. Today, Knowledge is power. The more knowledge one has, the more empowered one is. However, India continues to face stern challenges. Despite growing investment in education, 25 per cent of its population is still illiterate; only 15 per cent of Indian students reach high school, and just 7 per cent

The first issue that higher education in India is facing is decreasing teaching quality. Teachers are not well trained and qualified for the job they are

the teaching of English in the multilingual context. Language has been accepted as a major vehicle for conveying thoughts and feelings and there by storing our experiences and establishing relationship in the society yet, the teaching of languages in general and the teaching of languages of instruction in particular is taken for granted which is unacceptable in the multi lingual milieu of globalized world.

Value education is not offered in the schools and colleges. If offered, religion and hatred are spread in the name of value education. Many of the doctors, lawyers, CAs, politicians and Govt. servants who are supposed to be the saviors of the society, suffer from serious charges of corruption. Old-age homes are increasing. Suicides are increasing. The meaning of love is eventually changing. The education-led technology, inventions and innovations are being misused.

Women have a much lower literacy rate than men. Conservative cultural attitudes prevent girls fromattending schools. Despite Government‘s attempts to provide incentives viz. midday meals, free books and uniforms, girls' attendance is poor. Though the minimum age for marriage is eighteen, many girls get married muchearlier. Therefore, at the secondary level, female drop-out rate is high.

Political influence is also a bad thing and an issue with higher education. Governing bodies do not want any political influence or interference in their affairs. The dominant political leaders, now playing key role in governing bodies of the Universities, as they own most of the Institutions, imparting education (Aided-non-aided). They have established their own youth cells and encourage students‘ organization on political basis. They exploit the students‘ energy for their political purposes. The students for get their own objectives and begin to develop their careers in politics.

Younger generation is not interested in serving their country and they are more interested in just taking up a job and a hefty pay package. Rapid growth of science and technology and subsequent industrialization has caused a great and danger to our old moral and values. The younger generation‘s dissatisfaction and revolt is the out-come of a decaying system of values. eroding the quality of education. It is one of the major contributors to domestic black money. Payment to Management at dark rooms and seeking admissions is increasing. ‗Get full salary in the account, pay back part to Management by blank signed cheques‘ is also a practice in some private schools.

Is one of the most troublesome changes that the present higher education system has imposed on the communities? The numbers of students are coming from the ordinary classes; many of the mare unable to provide the minimum necessities of life for themselves. Economic miseries have grown due to the rising prizes, habits of was ting money on luxuries, increasing population, short age of food supply, corruption, selfish etc. students hold part time jobs in order to pay for the their educational expenses and must divide their attention between a job and College/University education. Near about seventy- five percent of the total students community today, have been facing the financial problems. Earn while learn scheme cannot adequately support student to face economic challenges.

There are many different curriculum systems that confuse the students who wish to achieve the same objective such as Engineering, Medical and Business Administration. At the higher education level, there is no uniformity in the syllabuses taught for the same programmer. Syllabus revision is done quite often without considering the contemporary requirements of industries. There is lack of diversity in the subjects one can take in colleges. Flexibility to cross over streams is also lacking.

For Governments, more scoring is success. English is becoming the measure of intellect. Hence, parents of today take least interest in vernacular medium of education. Due to the perceived notion of inferior quality, Govt schools are becoming the last choice for many. Education-seeking migration has become a matter of pride for many families. Most of the school students spend majority of their learning time in preparing for competitive exams. Coaching classes too flourish due to this unwarranted competition, leading to a class-divide.

Based on geographical, rural-urban, rich-poorest up has posed in great challenge for the educational institutions. Varieties of colleges, universities, technical institutions have produced and different types and quality of Education. Some of the mare

others are doing the dirtiest job. Thanks to UGC, for publishing the list of such a fake Universities and Institutions indulging in educational malpractices.

Financing is also an issue with higher education in India. Yes India is already spending very much on higher education and it can‘t spend more.However if the quality of higher education has to be improved then more financing is needed.

Privatization is also a big problem that higher education faces.Privatization of higher education is the way to go. However just privatization is not going to solve the problem. You need to foster the culture of creativity, imagination and learning new skills in young students.

Debating quota system is very controversial. But if you are being honest then I must tell you quota is not good for the quality of higher education. Talent and merit is more important than your identity. However quota system is still a challenge.

Teacher absenteeism in India is exorbitant. World Bank estimates show the cost in salaries paid to absent teachers is US $2 billion every year. In a study by Kremer, etc , they found 25% of private sector teachers and 40% of public sector medical workers were absent during the survey. Absence rates among them ranged from14.6% in Maharashtra to 41.9% in Jharkhand.

Higher education lack project based learning. Young graduates need to learn new skills especially vocational skills that can give them job.So we are not focusing on project based learning at all. Just theory is not enough, we also need practical knowledge is also.There is no strategy for higher education in India. We don‘t have foreign students coming to the country and studying here.Government has no plan for this and this is a big challenge.

India has to embrace computer and high speed internet technology. Our educational deliverymechanisms should take the wealth of human schools, colleges and universities will have to be integrated and interlinked with ICT. The Governments should investmore in technological infrastructure that will ease the knowledge accessibility.

The system should reward those who deserves highest academic honor. The crammers should not be rewarded.Our testing and marking systems need to be built to recognize original contributions, creativity, problem solving and innovation. Ranks should be awarded accordingly.

Indian education system is built on the assumption that if a thing is good for one child, it is good for all. But, one massive education system cannot be suitable to all. Some people are visual learners, others are auditorylearners. Some kids learn faster, some do slow. The syllabus should be designed in such a way that everylearner‘s latent ability is identified and motivated. Hasty and fast learning should be discouraged.

A teacher is an entrepreneur and creator. The performance of a teacher should not be restricted to classroom. Itneeds to be opened up for the world to see with internet. There has to be leaders in teaching positions, notsalaried people holding their mantle. Hence, regular training is a necessity.

Teaching jobs are widely regarded as safe, well-paid and risk-free jobs. Most of the teachers do notwant to change. As they become experienced, they get septic, and not even think of the nature and need of thestudents. Understanding the present generation is the necessity. Guidelines should be made in this direction.

Education without character is abortion and will create divisions in the society. A country that lowersthe quality of education and allows score competition in exams will collapse. The mystified doctors, less skilledengineers, cowardly judges, money minded accountants, greedy businessmen, inhuman preachers and ignorantteachers cannot serve for the economy‘s growth. They will soon and surely doom the society with theirunethical practices which no one can resist.

in India, http://www.groupdiscussionideas.in/present-education-system-in-india/, 28thJanuary. 2. Classbase, 2016, Education System in India, http://www.classbase.com/countries/India/Education-System. 3. Kremer, etc. (2004), "Teacher Absence in India: A Snapshot", ''Journal of the European Economic Association''.http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/macarthur/inequality/papers/KremerTeacherAbsenceinIndia.pdf. 4. Kumkum Joshi (2017). How India's education system is breaking the country, http://www.dailyo.in/voices/school-education-englishgovernment-school/story/1/16610.html. 5. Sharma Sharda, UGC and Higher Education System in India. 6. University News- Dec.26, 2005, Jan.01, 2006. 7. Powar, K. B. (2002). Indian Higher Education: A Conglomerate of Concept, facts, and practices, Concept publication company, New Delhi. 8. Mishra Sharda, (2006). UGC and Higher Education System in India. Book Enclave, Jaipur.302006 9. University News. Vol. 49. No. 31, August- 11-2011. 10. University News. Vol. 49. No. 35, August- 29, September 04, 2011.

Associate Professor of Public Administration, Govt. College for Women, Jind, Haryana-126102