SPECIAL REPORT: THE EDUCATION RACE

When More Is Worse

India's vast plan to build a bevy of new schools will fix only half the problem: quantity, not quality.

By Jason Overdorf | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 9, 2008
Aug. 18-25, 2008 issue

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  • Posted By: biztech @ 12/30/2008 6:05:04 AM

    Save India Now is the platform for Indians to demand accountability from their political leaders.
    http://saveindianow.com/

  • Posted By: desiraju @ 08/19/2008 6:20:18 AM

    This is very topical and many teachers are aware of these issues. Please see my recent commentary in Nature India entitled "Neither quality nor quantity" at
    http://www.nature.com/nindia/2008/080501/full/nindia.2008.192.html
    G R Desiraju, School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad

  • Posted By: desiraju @ 08/19/2008 6:19:29 AM

    This is very topical and many teachers are aware of these issues. Please see my recent commentary in Nature India entitled "Neither quality nor quantity" at
    http://www.nature.com/nindia/2008/080501/full/nindia.2008.192.html
    G R Desiraju, School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad

  • Posted By: rahul.choudaha @ 08/14/2008 7:55:31 PM

    Very interesting articles, touches most of the burning issues with Indian higher education. I argue that in addition to government, regulatory, and funding issues, India needs to "professionalize" higher education. This means bringing respect and recognition to the profession of teaching, research and administration in education settings. Barring a few private institutions, higher education sector pays in bottom quartile, which means that there is little incentive for talent to enter education sector. There is need to encourage a culture of research and practice of higher education. Institutions like ISB, Hyderabad started with a global vision and proved that despite regulatory hurdles there is a potential to be world-class in India. As more and more professional talent is attracted to education sector, it will build its capacity to optimize quality with quantity.
    Rahul Choudaha
    Ph.D. Candidate in Higher Education
    University of Denver

  • Posted By: Jay Bharat @ 08/10/2008 5:59:27 PM

    India had the oldest world renowned universities Nalanda and Taxila. Scholars from all over the world came here to study. Today the best young brains of India goes aborad for higher study, thanks to the iron grip of the Permit and Quota Raj. 500,000 of inida's best scholars are in the US alone. India sends out the highest number of brains to the US, and other countries, every year, with China tailing way behind thanks to the Iron Grip of the Permit Raj.

    Thirty years ago, you had to wait in line for 15 years to be able to buy a car in India, thanks to the Permit Raj.. That car cost a fortune, but 50 years behind in technology. The Permit Raj for cars were scrapped, and today India is the world hub of small cars, that are world class in cost and quality. Even Detroit is moving in fast.

    Mr. Manmohan Singh Sir, it is time to scrap the Permit Raj for education also. Indians have an unsatiable thirst for education. By scrapping the Permit Raj for education we will have modern day Nalandas springing up all over India. The massive brain drain from India, which is costing the country untold trillions, will be reversed. With our Demographic Dividend, India will become the Knowledge capital of the world in a surprisingly short time.

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