Democracy and Higher Education: Issues and Challenges" (10 September, 2012)

“Democracy and Higher Education: Issues and Challenges” (10 September 2012) Critique Ferozepur Chapter and Philosophical Society: A Students’ Discussion Forum of the Dev Samaj College for Women organized a Seminar on the theme ‘Democracy and Higher Education: Issues and Challenges’. As many as three hundred students along with the faculty of the campus debated on the issue. In the seminar chaired by Swati Suri, Amandeep Kaur, Amritpreet Kaur and Deepinder Kaur, discussing an account of JNU Professor, Avijit Pathak’s work, ‘Education and Moral Quest’ and former N.C.E.R.T. Chairman Krishan Kumar’s work ‘Political Agenda of Education’ raised their voice to rethink and redefine the education and education system in the country. Amritpreet, in her presentation said, “With the advent of neo-liberal globalization, the ideals of education have turned from moral to more capital and profit centric”. She cautioned against the contemporary state of education and urged the teachers and policy makers to make Higher Education inclusive for all, which at the moment is exclusive, only for those who can afford high fees”. Deepinder said that “the annual examination system of the University, to judge the over all performance of students is not just”. She further added that “there should be change in the evaluation pattern of the students. Courses engaging critical and creative responses of students, consisting of the socio-cultural environment they live in should be introduced rather leaving them mugging and running for higher merit and marks”. Amandeep said that “the current examination system only focuses on merit and numbers which in the processes alienates the students and the educators from the larger aims of education that is social transformation and solidarity within society”. The seminar was followed by a hot discussion among the speakers, faculty and student participants in which issues of reservation in higher education, education system, and privatization of education was debated at length. The students also suggested organizing a separate seminar on the issue of caste inequalities and education in the college, in near future.