Saturday, September 1, 2007

Privatization of Higher Education: Certain Voices From Below

Philosophical Society of the College organized a student’s seminar on the topic “Privatization of Higher Education: Certain Voices From Below”. In the Seminar Ms Kawaljeet kaur of B.A.III Year , Amanat Kaur of B.A.II Year ,Mandeep of B.A.II Year, Garima Singhania of B.C.A. I Year, Sannia of B.A. II Year and Manpreet of B.C.A.I Year presented their Papers on the biased attitude of the Indian Government towards the National Education Policy for allowing the Private Capitalist Giants to capture the sphere of higher education.
In the first session Kawaljeet, Amanat and Mandeep raised their concern regarding the growing marketization of the education sector which is in turn marginalizing the higher education to a certain section of people living in the society. They said that it is badly affecting the future of the students belonging to the subaltern section of the society as these students due to lack of financial resources are unable to get themselves admitted to these Rich educational institutions .
Kawal said that today education is being seen as a commodity of looks and infrastructure. If a college has much comforts to offer it is said to be the best in every terms. She questioned the very meaning of “Education” and said that today education is reachable to only those who have more money to offer. She Quoted Mr. Yogesh Snehi a historian from Amritsar that “Earlier the Social educational movements like Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj and others were started to uplift the education and especially women education in the country. Education was given even free of cost so that, people could give up old superstitions and other taboos and could develop rational and critical thinking the very soul of education. But today these educational societies have forgotten the values of its educational ideals and are busy minting huge money by formulating high fee structures which is beyond the reach of an average man. How far is it justified is again a matter of enquiry?”
In second session Garima, Sania and Manpreet stressed on the formulation of new educational policies through which Higher education should reach to all irrespective of the status and caste. They said that education should be affordable to all.
Garima suggested that more flexible fee structure should be incorporated in the Private Educational Institutions. More Scholarships and the information about the scholarships should be made available to the students.
Manpreet in her critique of privatization of education said that it is not only affecting the students but even the teaching employee working in these institutions. Contractual teaching is resulting in poor quality teaching as well as in some cases the economic exploitation of the employee at the hands of the institution. She suggested that government should introduce more regular posts in the educational institutions.

College Principal Dr. Madhu Prashar appreciated the Sensitivity of the speakers towards the deprived and subaltern student section of the society. She informed the students about the steps the college has taken in helping the financially weak students to receive higher education in the college. She herself appealed to all the private educational institutions to help such students in every possible manner.

In the last session Kamaldeep,( President of Philosophical society), Pooja, Amandeep, Ramandeep, Navdeep, Simar, Harpriya and Neha raised important questions which were well taken by the speakers. The session was chaired by Ms Popsy of B.A.II year. Among others who participated were Mr. Ambuj Sharma of Department of Philosophy and Ms Shavinder of Department of Political Science.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

hi!this is a very gud n alarming issue n talk about it in a private institution is a very big thing.i m very happy for my young friends. they r doing really well.i congratulate u n kamal n aman n all the members of philosophical society once again. KEEP IT UP

sarab said...

hi it is very interseting topic &even very alarming it is due to privitisation of higher education that most of the section of society is deprive of higher education bcoz they cant afford such expensive infrastructure & the result is they give up.it is a very alarming issue in India In Hong Kong the govt has a system if u want to study u can approach govt's help they ll help u until u wont get ur degree even many of the students are getting higher education free of cost with this effort of the govt the one who wants to study can study & ll never have to give up.So i think it is high time for our govt also to be a little bit responsible towards this issue & if our govt have such kind of policies so any one of the speaker can please reply to me at my e-mail address sarabjit85@yahoo.com or sarabjitsran @gmail.com.but it is a matter of celebration that our philosophical society is taking action towards this kind of issues where our govt is also sleeping.Our society has taken this issue in a private institutionMay be the management of our college ll have some effect they ll do something useful in this context.
Good Luck.Well done
Keep it up

Ham-Kalam said...

Hello budding philosophers !

It's indeed wonderful effort to have a seminar on such a foundational and contemporary issue. A big congrats to all.

Keep it up !

Warmly
Lallan and other friend in Critique group at Panjab University, Chd.

Yogesh Snehi said...

Siksha hamara adhikar hai,
Yeh koi bazaar nahi,
Siksha samaj ka aadhaar hai!
Going great...Keep up the spirit...