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.