campus
From 20 to 309 varsities now, educational scene
not all that bad
Smriti Kak

Education has still miles to go in the country. But optimists insist that 50 years after Independence, the picture is not too bleak. Recounting the miles that have been covered thus far, the University Grants Commission, Chairperson, Prof. Arun Nigavekar pointed out that from 20 universities in 1950, the country now has 309 universities.

There are 188 state universities, 86 to-be deemed universities and institutes of national importance like the IITs and IIMs. The number of teachers has risen from 15,000 to 4.60 lakh in 2003. The number of colleges in 1950 was 700 whereas it is 15,614 today and the number of students today is an overwhelming 9.28 million.

“The geographical access to colleges is 120 km in very remote areas whereas it is only 80 km in metros,” said Prof. Nigavekar.

Reassuring news is that people are realising the importance of education and of the 9.25 million, 22 per cent are first generation learners. The lack of interest in science, however, has the Chairman of the UGC worried, “Of the total students, only a meagre 17 per cent are enrolled in professional courses and the rest 83 per cent are in general education.”

While the sheer number of institutions is heartening, the fact that even today the country spends a mere 3.8 per cent of the GDP is an indicator of apathy, regret the academicians.

Their contention is that the country should be spending a more rational amount on education. “Compared to the amount we spend on defence, the amount we spend on education is shameful to say the least,” complained a noted academician.

Jamia teachers

The Jamia Hamdard University Teachers Association has followed the steps of the Aligarh Muslim University. The Association has condemned the UGC move to subject admission to various professional and technical courses in the university through a common admission test to be conducted by various government agencies as ‘’an attack on minority rights’’.

In a statement here, the Association said minorities have the constitutional right to manage their educational institutions in such a manner as to promote their larger socio-educational interests. The decision taken by the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development encroaches upon the autonomy of the university as every university has the right to determine its own standards of examination, admission and education, it said.

The association points out that any decision regarding the common entrance test should have been taken after a wide public debate and discussion with scholars.

“Unfortunately, the Union Government seems to be in undue haste to centralise the higher technical education in India to vent its own subjective consideration into it,” read the statement signed by Association president Prof Suroor A Khan and secretary Najm Zaheer Khan.

Science and healing

For those seeking guidance in alternate science and healing, help is at hand. The Institute of Healing and Alternate Science, Shalimar Bagh has announced programmes in Reiki, Astrology and Feng Shui.

The institute is the brainchild of Anuj Jain, a master of astrology, Feng Shui and Reiki.

Dip in digital arts

Zee interactive learning systems has announced diplomas in digital arts. The course involves a three-month certified internship on live animation projects at ZILA studios and 12 months of classroom teaching.

The courses have been designed to make students industry-smart. The course has five in depth modules that include specialisation in film animation, print media, advertising industry, multimedia and website designing.

Fashion show

Portfolio ’03, the fashion show by Pearl Academy of Fashion saw models sashay down the ramp in clothes designed by the students of the graduating batch of BA Hons in Fashion Design.

The students showed their creative abilities and depicted the same through theme like Striya Charitra and Plastic of life.

From Chikankari to khadi, the students had translated their designs on various fabrics enhancing the looks.

Divya Gandhi was awarded the most practical collection award for her thme ‘Kashmir: beyond the valley’, Shweta Rohhila won the Best collection award for her ‘Intricacies of my mind’, Arshia Jindal won the award for the most innovative collection and the special jury award went to Shruti Lohiya for ‘Striya Charitra’.

The awards were given away by the Union Minister for Textiles, Mr Shahnawaz Hussian.

The 10th anniversary show included a thematic sequence by Ashley Lobo. Unveiling of the logo was followed by the rendition of Vande Mataram, themes based on Bollywood, Chicago and Fusion, this in turn was followed by experimental dance with various props.

The three-day event comprised exhibitions, a cultural event by students, seminars, alumni meet and fashion shows. A pictorial display of Pearl’s evolution during the last 10 years was also part of the celebrations.

A first of its kind ‘Make Up Art’ where make up was presented as an art was well attended.

On the serious side was the International Conference on Branding Strategies. The seminar series covered various national and international branding strategies and discussed various challenges and case studies.

Among the dignitaries who were present were former Minister, Ms Menaka Gandhi, Textile Secretary, Mr S B Mohpatra, film-maker and designer Muzzafar Ali and costume designer Amal Allana.