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When to subsidise and why
Campus scene Setting standards |
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Amrik Singh
discusses an experiment at Osmania University where higher fees resulted in more demanding students and better teachers
He proposed to the syndicate of the university that while the university was admitting 30 students in each postgraduate course, it might be a good idea to increase the number of seats by 10. An admission test was being held in any case and only the top 30 were being admitted. What if another 10 students were admitted to the master's degree programme provided they were prepared to pay the full per capita cost incurred by the university? This came to about Rs 50,000 per student at that level. By admitting another 10 students, the university could perhaps be able to meet its deficit. The proposal was accepted. Something unexpected happened in the wake of this decision. Those who had paid the full per capita cost of education did not feel satisfied with the kind of academic instruction that was being imparted. The other 30 who were paying only Rs 20-30 per month were not satisfied with the kind of teaching done, but were not all that bothered about the quality of instruction. After all, they were paying only a nominal fee. The new entrants, for reasons that should not be difficult to understand, expressed their sense of dissatisfaction openly and publicly. The other students, who had been placed higher in the rank order and, by definition, were good students also, had the same perception, but were not vocal about getting the right kind of instruction in the classroom. Within a few weeks, the teachers got the message. They could see that unless they performed better, there would be problems. Most of them were capable of doing so and the level of instruction underwent a significant degree of improvement within a matter of weeks. What other inferences can be drawn from this somewhat unorthodox series of developments? The brief answer is that by charging the students a lower fee, the state has more or less ensured that there is no student pressure whatsoever on teachers to perform better than they are doing at present. In other words, this policy of charging a very low fee requires being re-examined from the academic point of view as well. Generally, all such discussion take place in the context of adding to the financial resources for higher education. That is an important point of view, no doubt, but at the same time, the academic dimension needs to be given equal importance and not less. The biggest argument against increasing the fees is that those who are unable to pay will get left out. Is that correct? Both yes and no. It is correct for something like 50 per cent of the students. Experience in professional colleges has shown that, when obliged to pay, about half of them do manage to pay. There is one point of difference, however. Those who qualify in a professional course have a better chance of getting employment than the rest. Once again, this is both true and not so true. As far as the science courses are concerned, there is still a considerable demand for those who qualify in the several much-sought-after courses. If the demand is not as high, as in the field of social sciences and languages, it should not take too much of an effort to come to the conclusion that things vary from discipline to discipline. At the master's level, the number of students is not all that large, comparatively speaking; the all-India percentage is something like 10 per cent of the total enrolment. About one quarter of them are enrolled in science courses where the market demand is still high. The market demand is equally high in the case of commerce and business studies, if it may be added. Therefore, to charge a higher rate of tuition fee at that level would be both legitimate and rational. If that line of argument is extended a little, a system would have to be devised whereby state subsidy is given wherever it is necessary and not when it is not expected or demanded. Evidently, a clear distinction will have to be drawn between undergraduate teaching and postgraduate teaching. In terms of the argument in hand, we are talking of the latter. According to present system, government grant is given to meet salaries and other related expenditure. Were this grant were to be given not to the institution but to the students, one clear outcome would be that students would think and perform differently. Secondly, a student would know that he is accountable to somebody. By rationalising the fee structure therefore, two things will get done. The first one would be that teachers would perform better. There would be a greater pressure to do so and, since at that level, a certain proportion of teachers are capable of better performance, they will without question perform better. The second advantage would be that students would also feel differently with regard to the facilities that they are being given. Today, they take it for granted that whatever they are getting is their right, so to speak. This is not correct. In terms of the Indian Constitution, education till the age of 14 is an obligation of the state. After that, it all depends upon the capability of students to profit from it. If further study can help the students to acquire higher and/or professional education, the assumption is that these students are going to improve their capability and perform better. As a result, the country would also benefit. Does it happen in every case? One has to but only asks the question and one knows that the answer is in the negative. A fairly large proportion of students go on with their study because it costs them so little. That quite a number of them do not have the requisite capability becomes clear from one simple fact. At the postgraduate level, the pass percentage ranges generally between 50 and 75 per cent. In other words, something like a fourth of those enrolled fail to clear even the far-from-rigorous course of instruction that they are required to complete. Clearly, it is a bargain for students but not the state. Would it not make better sense if the state, instead of spending money on those students who do not in each case have the requisite capability, rearranged things in such a manner that education was imparted wherever profitable both to the student and society. Once that happens, those who are unable to profit from it would either not get enrolled or would be required to pay the full cost. In other words, nobody would be prevented from joining the course, but the unworthy would not be assisted to join it. This would be a different situation from what obtains today. Whatever has been said is applicable to those enrolled at the postgraduate level and not undergraduate students. The problems at that level are different and would be discussed separately some other time.
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Campus
scene WINDS of change are blowing in the university, which is back on the track of development. After going through a tough phase, university officials are now getting their salaries on time. According to Mr R. C. Goel, HAU Comptroller, the university had a total deficit of Rs 88.07 crore in 2001. The deficit was due to large differences between the amount sanctioned for the university and the actual payment released by the government from 1997 to 2001. The university authorities were even forced to take huge loans from banks and draw large amounts from their overdraft account. But the situation has improved a lot in the recent years. Now there is no drawing of money from the overdraft account, and the rate of interest on the bank loans is also manageable. The faculty members as well as administrative officers of the university give the credit to the new Vice-Chancellor, Mr M. K. Miglani. They say the overall situation has improved ever since Mr Miglani took over. He not only persuaded the government to release the sanctioned funds, but also got a pending grant of around Rs 15 crore released from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The Vice-Chancellor’s efforts, coupled with several cost-cutting measures adopted by the Comptroller, saw the university through the acute financial crunch. Weather-based agro advisories course A short course on “weather-based agro advisories value addition” sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research is being held on the university campus. The 10-day course has been organised by the Department of Agricultural Meteorology, HAU. Scientists from various agricultural universities are participating in the course. Dr Satyavir, Dean, College of Agriculture, stressed the need of value addition to the agro advisories issued by national centers for medium-range weather forecasting. He said timely and accurate information about weather-based farm operations would help the farmers increase their production even under adverse weather conditions. New HAUTA teams sworn in Newly elected office-bearers of the Haryana Agricultural University Teachers Association (HAUTA) were recently sworn in. Dr M. S. Narwal of the Department of Plant Breeding is the new HAUTA president. Dr M. S. Yadav, the president of the outgoing HAUTA team, did not contest the election this time. Dr Tek Chand, who was supported by Dr Yadav, lost the election for the president’s post. Dr Kuldeep Deswal has been elected vice-president, Dr S. K. Kadyan secretary, Dr Rajvir Singh joint secretary and Dr S. S. Sangwan treasurer of the association. Besides, 11 executive members of the association were also elected. Training programme on medicinal plants Extension officials from various parts of the state and a considerable number of farmers are attending a weeklong training programme on cultivation prospects and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants. The programme, which began on December 1, is being organised by the HAU Department of Plant Breeding, in collaboration with the Directorate of Aromatic Plants and Spices, Calicut (Kerala). Director K. G. Alizabeth from the Calicut-based institution lamented that due to the non-availability of sowing material, medicinal and aromatic and medicinal plants could not get the desired popularity in India. International conference on women issues An international conference on “Globalisation and Women’s Work in South Asia and European Union” will be held on the HAU campus from December 13 to 17. The conference is being organised with the help of Dr Lydia Potts, University of Oldenburg, Germany. It will be inaugurated by Ms Radha Singh, Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture. Ms Komal Anand, Secretary, Company Affairs, Government of India, will be the guest of honour on the occasion.
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Setting standards THE approval of the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is must in order to establish any new technical institution or to introduce new courses in the existing institutions. This is why the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University has granted only a provisional approval for introducing postgraduate course in fine arts in the Government College of Art, Sector 10, Chandigarh, as the final nod will have to be obtained from the AICTE. The main functions of the AICTE are coordinating development of technical education, promotion of qualitative improvement in relation to quantitative growth and maintenance of norms and standards in technical education. The AICTE has set up a National Board of Accreditation (NBA) for evaluation of technical programmes on the basis of prescribed guidelines, norms and standards, The NBA guidelines for accreditation have been put to test since 1995, and till March 3, accreditation had been give to 1,325 programmes. At the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in consultation with the state government agencies concerned, for the whole country, the AICTE grants approvals for establishing new technical institutions, introducing new courses and changing the intake capacity. To catalyse industry-institute interaction, the AICTE has industry-institute partnership (IIP) cells, entrepreneurship and management development programme (EMD), AICTE-INAE (Indian National Academy of Engineers) Distinguished Visiting Professorship, and national facilities for engineering and technology with industrial collaboration. For upgrading of skills and exchange of knowledge, the AICTE operates a number of programmes for technical teachers. The AICTE has now extended the Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) for polytechnic teachers to enable them to pursue ME, M.Tech courses in various disciplines.
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Agriculture February 28 Veterinary Council of India, "A" Wing, 2nd Floor, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi 110066. All India Common Entrance Test for admission to BVSc & AH Course-2005 Elig: 10+2 (PCB & Eng, 50%) or BSc with any two of: Phys, Chem, Bio (Bot/ Zool) and has passed 10+2 (PCB & Eng). Min Age: 17-yr (on December 31 ’05) Test: 08 May ’05 Appln F: Send Rs. 750/- by DD fvg "Veterinary Council of India, New Delhi" by February 14 ’05 to above add. Details: Website. Engineering Indo-German Tool Room, P- 31,
MIDC, Chikalthana, Aurangabad- 431 210 (Mah) 1) PG Diploma in Tool Design (18-mth) 2) Post Diploma in Tool Design & CAD/ CAM (12-mth) Elig: For 1: BE/ BTech (Mech/ Prodn); For 2: Diploma/ BE/ BTech (Mech/ Prodn) Details: Website/ Employment News (27 Nov - 3 December ). IT December 24 Centre for Development of
Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Anusandhan Bhawan, C-56/1, Sec-62, Noida-201307 (GoI,
M/o Comm & IT) PG Diploma Adv Software Design & Dev (6-mth) Elig: BE/BTech/MSc/MCA/B Level/PGDCA Selectn: Entrance Test & Interview: 09 January ’05. Details: Website Law December 12 Small Industries Service
Institute, Legal Training Centre, Room # 30, 65/1, G.S.T Road, Guindy, Chennai
600032 (TN) Diploma Courses (8/6/4-mth;
FT/Dist/Weekend) Elig: Cl 10 / 10+2 / Bachelor’s deg. Details: Website. Management 31 December Institute of Management
Technology (IMT), PB No. 137, Raj Nagar, Hapur Road, Ghaziabad 201001 PhD Prog (affltd to GGSIP Univ): Bus Policy & Strat Mgt, Eco/Fin & Acc, IT, Mkt & Bus Oppor, HRM, Env Mgt, Op Mgt Elig: Master’s deg (60%) / BE/BTech (75%) 3 yrs relev wk ex in ind’l/ res / teaching in univ/instt. Details: Website. Atal Bihari Vajpayee- Indian
Institute of Information Technology & Management (ABV-IIITM), Morena Link
Road, Gwalior-474003 (Deemed Univ) (MP) PhD Prog (FT/PT) Elig:
For FT: Master’s Deg (Engg/Tech) / MBA (65% or CGPA of 7.00/10.00) Selectn: Test & Interview: 18 December ’04. Details: Website March 12 Symbiosis Institute of Computer
Studies & Research, Atur Centre, 2th Fl, Gokhale Cross Road, Model Colony,
Pune 411016 (Mah) MBA –IT (2-yr, FT) Elig: Bachelor’s Deg (50%) Selectn: ATMA Test: 06 February ’05, GD & Personal Interview: 19-21 March ‘05 Details: Website. Medicine January 03 Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Sant
Tukaram Nagar, Pimpri, Pune 411108 (Deemed Univ) All India Entrance Test for PG
Medical Courses-2005 Details: Website. December 23 Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry 605006 Admisssion to various MD/MS/Diploma Courses Elig: MBBS, MCI regd, completed internship on or before 31 March ‘05 Test: 20 February ’05. Appln F: Send Rs 450/- by DD fvg "Accounts Officer, JIPMER, Pondicherry-6" with two self-add slips (2"x3"), to the Registrar (Academic), at above add by 04 December . Details: Employment News (27 Nov - 3 December ). Recruitment December 10 Eastern Railway, Asansol 713301 (WB) Engagement of Act Apprentices Elig:
Cl 10 (50%) & ITI qualified in relev trade Age Limit: 15-22 yrs (on
01 January ’05). Appln F: Send in prescribed format to Sr. Divisional Personnel Officer, DRM’s Office, Recruitment Cell at above add Details: Employment News (27 Nov - 3 December ). December 15 The Shipping Corporation of
India Ltd (GoI), Shipping House, 245, Madame Cama Road, Mumbai 400021 Recruitment of Charted Accountants (Jr Officers) Details: Employment News (27 Nov — 3 December )/Website. December 16 Haryana Staff Selection Commission, SCO No 114-115, Sector 8 C, Chandigarh Various posts in 7 categories Details: Leading national dailies (02 December) Scholarships December 20 M/o HRD, (D/o Sec & Hr Educn),
Scholarship Division (ES.5 Section), A.2/W. 4, Curzon Rd Barracks, Kasturba
Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 Norwegian Govt Scholarships
2005-’06 1) Gender & Devpt 2) Intnl Community Health 3) Spl Needs Educn 4) Intnl Fisheries Mgt 5) Appld & Performing Arts Elig: Bachelor’s deg (60%) in relev subj. Age Limit: 40-yr (on 20 January ’05) Details: Employment News (27 Nov – 3 December ’04)/ Website January 31 Lady Tata Memorial Trust, Bombay House, Homi Mody Street, Mumbai 400001 Scientific Research Scholarships
- 2005-‘06. (1) Post-Doctoral Fellows Appln F: Write to the Secretary & Chief Accountant at above add. — Pervin Malhotra,
Director, CARING, New Delhi |
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SOMETHING
interesting happened half a decade ago in Osmania University, Hyderabad. When a new vice-chancellor took office, he found that the state government was not prepared to increase grant even though there was an annual deficit of about Rs 5 crore. He chose to be innovative.