Pallavee Dhaundiyal Panthry

As a tradition, education inIndia is looked upon quiteholistically, especially

with reference to the traditionalGurukul system. The educationsystem is too formal and compet-itive now with a plethora of op-portunities for students. Indiacurrently has the world's largestyouth population and also thelargest education market,which makes imperative theneed to prepare and plan foran education that produces aworld class, competent andskilled force

Responding to the need ofthe hour, The Times of In-dia, recently organised aneducation conference, titled,'EDUCATIONext - The Wayforward', in the Capital, re-cently, in association withIMT Ghaziabad, HSBC and Orris.The day long event offered a plat-form to eminent academicians,scholars, educationists, teachers,NGOs and many big names fromthe corporate world, to discussthe roadmap for future educationvis a vis industry needs in India.

The conference was kick-start-ed by Ranjan Roy, associate Edi-tor, The Times of India, who gavea brief on the day's proceedingsand welcomed the participants.While giving the inaugural ad-dress, Kapil Sibal, Minister ofHuman Resource Development,Government of India, chief guestof the event, said: "Providingquality education with opportu-nities in abundance is our fore-most goal. We have to build ahighway for a child. Which wayhe wants to drive, that's thechild's wish."

He further added, "The gov-ernment aims to design coursesof national standard across allsubjects, across the country. Wewill soon roll such courses in thevocational fields like retail, real-ity, design and automobile. Be-sides, it's not the sole responsi-bility of Government to offerquality education at all levels,private institutions and corpo-rate should also pitch in, partnerand share the mammoth task ofproviding high qualityeducation to all. Educa-tion shouldn't be lookedas burden by private bod-ies; it should be under-stood as inclusive."

The conference wasspread over fours ses-sions throughout the day.The sessions deliberatedon India as education su-perpower of future andthe pathway to progress.

The first session elabo-rated on leveraging op-portunity and how high-

er education can help India shapeworld future; designing socialsystem of inclusive education -'Education for All' ; and new hy-brid teaching models and meth-ods, and discussion on role ofPPP. Sharing his thoughts in thefirst session, Pawan Aggarwal,advisor higher education, Plan-ning Commission of India, said:"Next five to 10 years in educa-tion would be crucial. Govern-

ment can support in fiscal wayand appoint more teachers. Themain challenges would be qualityin higher education and integra-tion of technology in education."

"Leveraging technologyin higher education space isa major task and will easelife in schools, colleges andinstitutions. Technologywill definitely be a key driv-er in fulfilling India's 'edu-cation for all' dream", addedSandhya, executive director,Sector Skills Council. Sheadded, "We are looking at in-tegrating technology inthree areas: higher educa-tion space; setting up ofstandards; and in the ac-

creditation area. We will soonpresent our project report to thegovernment."

The most pertinent subject ofdiscussion was an inclusive pat-tern of education. Are we creat-ing a parallel educational econo-my in India? What about syner-gies between education institu-tions and industries, at state andcentral levels? Shyama Chona,educationist, took up paradoxes,

confusions and obstacles ineducation in India. "We aresix decades late in educa-tion. But we need to gear up,because if not now then never.This year, we will have 10 crorechildren passing out from ele-mentary education and mov-ing to secondary education.But do we have provisions to of-fer quality education to them?Government has to help, but itwants partners to chip in." Tak-

ing a dig at the government's role,the speakers dwelled in length aboutwhat our government is offeringand what it could have had offered.Making a comparison between edu-

cation in India and the WesternCountries, Dr Arun Mohan Sherry,director, IMT CDL, said: "Australiaoffers 70 per cent scholarships in ed-ucation, US offers 50 per cent and In-dia, only two per cent. Talking aboutinterest rates on education loans, In-dia asks for 11.75 per cent, while inAustralia it is only 2.5 per cent andin UK and US, it varies between 3and 3.5 per cent."

Besides, we have over regulationin distance education. "Amazingly,there are more than 10 million stu-dents studying in open learning anddistance education institutions.The worst news is since past oneand a half years, there is no regularvice chancellor to look after dis-tance learning in India. This is thestate of education in our country",lamented Sherry.

Dwelling on roadmap for the fu-ture, the speakers talked about ex-panding horizons and plugginggaps in education system. They dis-cussed initiatives for collabora-tions, strategies for change and so-lutions to meet future needs. "In-dustry and academics must cometogether and collaborate to offerbest human resource. Besides, weneed as many as partnerships aspossible", Vineet Joshi, Chairman,CBSE.

The academicians were of opin-ion that industry interventionmust start from the secondary lev-el to strike a balance between theo-retical and practical aspects oflearning. But are industries keento partner even at the higher edu-cation level? Institutions say indus-tries do not partner and industriessay the students are not up to themark. "Neither industry nor insti-tution should blame each other.Rather both should work togetherto produce the best of human re-

source. Industries must communi-cate to institutions what skills andlearning they require", said A KBiswas, senior professor, IMT Ghazi-abad.

Sharing his views on platformssuch as EDUCATIONext, Stuart PMilne, CEO, HSBC India, "India ishome to one of the world's largest

youth populations. Universalisingaccess to higher education, andproviding skill training are mat-ters of utmost importance today.Platforms such as Education- Next,we believe, are critical as they pro-vide the space for government andindustry to initiate a discussionand find viable ways to strive foran improved and inclusive educa-tion system, and expand employ-ment opportunities."

THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 9

Educating IndiaEducation@India is striving hard to offer the best to its

students. Today, it is not only government, public and

private bodies who are pitching in, but the corporate

world is also joining the race as a form of social

corporate responsibility or motivated by business

– GURU SPEAK –

We have to build a highway for achild. Which way he wants todrive, that’s the child’s wish.

Kapil Sibal, Minister, HRD, Govt of India

The education system must beflexible. Monitoring is necessary,but over regulation obstructseasy functioning.

Arun Mohan Sherry, director, IMT CDL

Let’s talk about mind as resourceand not money. Give those fertileideas to the government and letIndia be the most educatedcountry.

Tapan Sangal, Group CEO, Orris Infrastructure

We have so many collegescoming up in India, but do wehave good teachers? Talkingparticularly about privateinstitutions, they should knowhow faculty should be motivatedto offer the best to students.

Pawan Agarwal, member, Planning Commission of India

Good education is always aboutteacher, but technology is anenabler and it should beintegrated in the educationsystem thoroughly.

D K Bandopadhyay, V C, GGSIPU

Technology will be a key driver inthe way we live and educateourselves, in years to come.

Sandhya Chintala, executivedirector, Sector Skills Council

Vocational education isimportant. Scholastic areas areessential, but we must giveimportance to co-scholastic areasalso. Responding to the need,CBSE has already started courses

in mass media, hospitality, retail and security.Vineet Joshi,

chairman, CBSE

There is a dire need for goodteachers, especially in privateinstitutions. In fact, human capital is foremost to any business.

Mohit Pawar, CEO, New Media Consulting

India is home to one of theworld's largest youthpopulations. Universalisingaccess to higher education, and providing skill training are matters of utmost

importance today. Stuart P Milne,

CEO, HSBC India,

Panel discussion in progress

Kapil Sibal (left) with Arun MohanSherry, at the conference

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