Indien braucht hunderte neue Universitäten und 35.000 Colleges

In einer Konferenz der UNESCO äußerte sich Minister Kapil Sibal zu den Bildungsbedarfen Indiens innerhalb der kommenden zehn Jahre. Möglichkeiten zur Deckung des riesigen Bedarfs an Bildungs- und Ausbildungsmöglichkeiten in Indien wurden in einer Konferenz der Confederaton of Indian Industry CII erörtert.

800 varsities, 35,000 colleges needed in next 10 years: Sibal

India will need at least 800 more universities and another 35,000 colleges in the next ten years to increase the percentage of students going for higher education from the present 12.4 per cent in the country, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said here today.

“India has about 480 universities and about 22,000 colleges. If we were to increase that figure of 12 per cent to 30 per cent, we will need another 800 to a thousand universities in the next ten years. We will need another 35,000 colleges in the next ten years... we are still below 40 per cent which I think is critical,” he said.

Mr. Sibal was speaking at the first contact group meeting of Parliamentarians for Education of the UNESCO South Asia Cluster, in which delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka and other south Asian countries participated.
Highlighting the importance of human resource development, Mr. Sibal said, “When the global economy is doing well and the stock market is in the upswing, the developed nations share their prosperity with us.” But it is not the case when global economy is not doing well and the stock market is on decline, he said.

“And I think that if we in this part of the world recognise the facts, we will realise how important education is for a developing economy,” he said.

Mr. Sibal said the energy of a nation ultimately depends on its youth. “The energy of a nation does not depend on parliamentarians who are over 60 years,” he said.

He said that in the 21st century, acquisition of physical or tangible assets will not be the wealth of any country but it will be the acquisition of intangible assets which are created not in the stock market but in the university system of nations.

“We need to ensure that a critical mass of students moves into the university system,” Mr. Sibal said, adding that the gross enrolment rate of education is the factor that makes all the difference between a developed and a developing country.

In developed countries, the percentage of children moving into the university system between the age group of 18 - 24 years is above 40 and in some parts of the developed nations the figure is 53, he said. “In India the figure is 12.4 per cent against the global average of 23,” Mr. Sibal pointed out.

The minister underlined that development of quality human resource is at the heart of achieving education for all and other development goals. “If we have economy moving at the rate of eight, nine or 10 per cent and do not develop a potential human resource, then there will be a mismatch between the economy and those who have the potential to serve this economy... and we cannot afford that,” Mr. Sibal said.

“And therefore when we talk about investments in primary and secondary education, we are constantly talking about the fact that there is not enough faculty...,” he said.

Mr. Sibal said the global community has failed to realise that human resource anywhere in the world is critical to global economy. “The more young people you have within the university structure, more mobility and civilisational dialogue you have, the more will be the potential for that creativity which will energise the world and in a sense ultimately benefit the global community,” he said.

Asserting that that it is quality in education that matters and not the quantity, Mr. Sibal said, “We have to look at meeting development goal in primary secondary education, but how do we move up the ladder has to be thought about.”

Suggesting changes in teaching and learning processes, he said, “We are caught in a static educational system that existed over the last 60 - 70 years... it’s time to wake up.”

Quelle: The Hindu - Online edition of India's National Newspaper, http://www.thehindu.com/, Artikel vom 24.03.2010

Public Assets to be made available for skill training to the private sector: Kapil Sibal
India needs addition of 600 universities & 35,000 colleges in 12 years

A policy framework is underway for public assets (schools / colleges / institute buildings) to be used by private players for skill training without any cost in the afternoon and evening. This was announced by Mr. Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, at the session on ‘Tomorrow’s North: Green & Educated’ at the CII Northern Region Annual Meeting

India needs to invest in the intangible wealth of ideas and innovations and this is possible only if we can increase the gross enrolment in higher education from 12.4 % to a minimum of 30% by 2020. To ensure this, education cannot be a sectoral enterprise but must be a national endeavor. Change in mindsets, openness to fresh ideas, liberalization and involvement of the community at the local level only can bring about this, stated.

The minister endorsed an independent accreditation system, and spoke on the need for legislation for education misdeamours. He called for a self disclosure format for education institutes for assets, faculty, teacher-pupil ratio, fee structure etc, while those who put in erroneous information would be penalized through law. A state level architecture for providing financial / loan assistance to students was also an inclusive agenda of education, he added.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act, which will come into force from April is based on the premise that India cannot wait to get the critical mass of students in the 18 -24 age group to move to the university level. And this cannot be delivered through the present 480 universities and 22,000 colleges. An additional 600 universities and 35,000 colleges will be required over the coming 12 years. For this to happen, private sector participation would be an essential element.

The minister also stated that the Right To Education Act entails the locality to take onus of the school, with 75% of management committee being locals, including mothers. Government will provide a framework, but the onus of effective function would be on the locality.

Specifically about the Northern region, the minister said that the region cannot emulate the southern model in education, but needs to capture its indigenous potential. He listed industry clusters that can serve immensely towards the development of North such as power generation, water management and technology, sugar & ethanol industry, leather industry, textiles, agriculture etc.

Mr. Rajendra S Pawar, Chairman & Co-founder, NIIT Group called for further liberalizing the education system vis-à-vis courses, content, engaging with the community and industry, financial reform to attract philanthropy and contributions in education. Technology as a natural second step would ensure connectivity and access.

Mr. Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Chairman, CII Agriculture Council & Vice Chairman & Managing Director Bharti Enterprises said that the private sector needs to go out and complement what the government is doing. The government should also look at funding the private sector through PPP arrangements, and start by sharing 20% of the overall education expenditure. He also focused on the urgent need for vocational education infrastructure to come up to serve the needs of the vast majority of youth, particularly in rural areas.

Dr. Renu Singh, Director – Advocacy & Policy Support, Save the Children Bal Raksha Bharat, said that the time is ripe for vocationalising education and come up with flexible pathways. Curriculum should be market driven and nutritional requirements should be fulfilled through models of early childhood education.

Mr. Hari S Bhartia, Vice President, CII & Co-Chairman & Managing Director Jubiliant Organosys Ltd said that a commitment from business for the development of requisite skills will supplement a positive shift in the sector. This shall bring in a mindset of innovation, facilitate entrepreneurship, and deliver practical knowledge.

Mr. Harpal Singh, Chairman CII Northern Region & Mentor & Chairman Emeritus Fortis Limited said that education is the foundation for overall development of a country. It aids national development, economic growth and strengthens the national fabric. North India is poised to offer significantly to nation’s demographic dividend, while the present education structure is dismaying. This calls for a futuristic strategic view on knowledge based industries, and accordingly developing the skill sets for the same.

Dr. Sudhir Kapur, Chairman, Skills & Education Sub Committee, CII Northern Region & Managing Director & CEO Country Strategy Business Consultants stated that the biggest challenge for the country is the divide in education, at state and urban-rural level. The future should ensure that the young get access to affordable education.

The CII Nanhi Chhaan Foundation was launched during the event, aiming at pro-active engagement of the corporate sector to promote gender equality and ecological conservation. At present 104 corporate have signed the code of conduct.