The Hindu Business Line : Inclusive education

This has reference to your editorial titled “inclusive education” in Business Line dated April 12, 2008. Higher education can make significant contribution to growth in terms of human development, talent development and productivity improvement. More and more inclusiveness in education including higher education will surely help bring about more inclusive growth.

Hitherto the candidates belonging to other backward classes have not been able to compete with general candidates and gain entry into central institutes of higher education like IITs and IIMs.

Now that the apex court has upheld the law enacted in 2006 providing for reservation of 27 per cent seats in these institutes ,the candidates belonging to OBC category will also be able to pursue higher education in these prestigious institutes.

Universally inclusive education, which can cover all those needing it, is possible only if adequate opportunities are available. The number of seats in central institutes of higher education being limited, the number of seats that can be had by these excluded categories is also limited.

To achieve more and more inclusiveness, at least in the long term, there is a pressing need to increase capacity in these institutes and also enhance the strength of teaching faculty and put in place quality infrastructure, such as libraries, class-rooms, etc., so that there is no dilution in quality of education.

Also, possibilities of setting up new institutes of higher education at the rate of one in each state can be explored. Here again this must be done after providing needed infrastructure such as good buildings, classrooms, libraries, etc.

It is also possible seek partnership with corporates in starting such new institutes. Corporates are mostly the end-users of the products of these institutes. Hence, they would surely come forward to set up such institutes in association with government or with other corporates. The HRD Ministry must explore this.

K. K. Ammannaya Udupi