Page 71 - EW July 2024

the fundamental problem of scarcity for public education has averaged 3.5
of educational institutions and the percent of GDP. Consequently, 21st
intense competition for limited seats. century India hosts 300 million adult
This scarcity drives the demand for illiterates, public K-12 education is in a
test prep services and fuels the high- shambles and GER (gross enrollment
pressure environment that leads to ratio) in higher education is 27 percent
unethical practices. We need to liber- cf. 85 percent in South Korea.
ally build and enhance educational in- The scale and impact of the NEET-
stitutions across the country — India UG 2024 contretemps has again
needs two world-class universities in highlighted the sustained neglect of
every district. Of course this is easier education and human resource devel-
said than done, but we must start opment by successive administrations
somewhere. The stakes are too high to and the establishment. The NEET-UG
delay any further,” says Atul Khosla, scandal is the inevitable outcome of
Vice Chancellor of Shoolini Univer- this national blindspot. It has shaken
sity, Himachal Pradesh (estb.2009) the faith and trust of students, par-
ranked #1 in the state in the EW India Khosla: capacity building solution ents and teachers communities in the
Private University Rankings 2024-25. country’s education system which has
Yet expanding capacity in medi- tion (Centre plus states) equivalent a long history of public exam mal-
cal and higher education in general to 6 percent of GDP. Despite the practices because of capacity shortage
requires greater investment in public election manifestos of every major across the spectrum.
education, a proposition that your edi- political party routinely promising to Restoring this massive loss of faith
tors have been advancing for 25 years. implement this recommendation, the requires more than band-aid solu-
Way back in 1967 the high-powered promise has been practiced more in tions from the new BJP-led NDA 3.0
Kothari Commission recommended the breach than observance. For over government which has begun its new
annual expenditure in public educa- seven decades annual expenditure shaky innings on the backfoot.

JULY 2024 EDUCATIONWORLD 71