The Hindu Business Line : Maritime training in India's shipping future

Maritime training had to be given importance and the government by itself was unable to do this. It was at this time that the decision to open training to private initiative was taken.

It has always been something of a mystery why India, the largest supplier of trained manpower to the international shipping community, has consistently lagged in the provision of state-of-the-art training in the maritime field. China is reported to have not one but several universities dedicated to maritime training,

The Philippines has innumerable schools to train their ratings, Singapore boasts a modern Maritime Training Institute but, till recently, India's contribution to the maritime training effort was confined to the government institutes at Mumbai and Kolkota.

Even the three training ships for ratings were closed down in a knee-jerk reaction to the temporary excess of Indian seafarers in the 1960s and the 1970s.

By the time the boom of the 1980s and the 1990s set in, it was becoming apparent that India's position as a prime source of trained manpower was under threat. Clearly, maritime training had to be given the importance it deserved and the government by itself was unable to do this. It was at this time that the momentous decision to open training to private initiative was taken.

PRIVATE INITIATIVE

Educational entrepreneurs were allowed to enter a domain hitherto reserved exclusively for the government. The results were not long in coming. Modern marine engineering colleges were set up and began to turn out marine engineers who were quickly snapped up by the international shipping community. Training institutes for deck cadets as well as for ratings were established at different parts of the country and private initiative in this vital field became a fact of life.

India's track record in attracting serious private investment in the domain of education has been mixed.

With a few honourable exceptions such as the Pais of Manipal there have hardly been any outstanding educational entrepreneurs who have entered the field not merely to get quick returns but also to provide a much-needed input of international quality.

It is here that the initiative taken by the Maritime Administration scores. Broadly speaking, there are few barriers to entry in the field of maritime training.

To some extent, this has led to the proliferation of institutes some of them of dubious provenance and this problem must be tackled. In general, however, private maritime training institutes have rendered good service. Given the inability of a cash-strapped government to make forays into maritime training, the private sector has filled a large gap.

HANDS-OFF POLICY

To the great credit of the maritime administration it has avoided some of the more glaring errors committed by its counterparts in general education. To begin with, admission is decided by the management and courts have not so far laid down any criteria.

The fee structure also is determined by the institute and is, therefore, left, as it should be, to the market. Policy initiatives at all levels in higher education in India have militated against the entry of private investment. The Government has sought to introduce quotas in the admission process even in private institutions and seek reduction in fees.

ROLE OF THE STATE

One must recognise that the state does have an important role to play in regulating private educational institutes and ensuring that they maintain standards.

When young persons graduate from a private institution we, as citizens, the state must be sure that they genuinely possess the skills that their degrees or training are supposed to have given them.

It is to the credit of the maritime administration that they have addressed this vital question. Private maritime training institutes are free to admit whom they wish and to charge fees that they consider commensurate with the service they offer. But after they turn out a young professional whether on the deck or on the engine side, the skills the person has acquired are put to the test.

Professional bodies such as the Company of Master Mariners, the Institution of Marine Engineers or the Institution of Naval Architects give freely of their time and expertise to examine these young graduates and ensure that they genuinely have the skills they are meant to possess. It is an outstanding example of private initiative in a vital area of education.

(The author is a former Shipping Secretary.)

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