Impact Of Private Institutes In Indian Higher Education

Higher education is one of the most important factors of today’s era for the nation-building of any country. Education is one of the fundamental rights of any citizen in India but when it comes to higher education more or less it becomes a matter of choice rather than a matter of requirement. In India, there are many public and private institutes available for higher education in almost every field. India is one of those countries in which education is more focussed on quantitative studies rather than qualitative studies and that is the major problem that persists today in India. But with the help of the government and some of the private players in the Indian educational system, we can make groundbreaking changes in this scenario and eventually can lead towards the global higher education peripheral. In many western countries, no. of students that are enrolled in higher education is way too low than that of countries like India but the level of knowledge that they possess has a very vast difference. So, in this scenario role of private institutes becomes very important and it has the caliber to provide qualitative higher education.

Introduction

Education is a formative and humanizing process by which a person’s body, mind, and character are strengthened and all-around personality development is enabled. Education is also a means for the transformation of accumulated knowledge, values, and skills to make individuals capable, competent, and wise to meet the challenges of life. In particular, higher education is an important and specialized form of human capital, the contribution of which to economic growth is very significant. It is rightly regarded as the “engine of development in the new world economy” (Diener & Patterson, 2011). The contributions of the Higher Education System for the development of knowledge and skills and the generation of wealth, growth of employment, improvement in productivity, and enhancement of global competitive capabilities are well recognized (Macaskill & Denovan,2011). More so, the role of higher education in the present scenario is multifaceted. It encompasses opening new vistas of learning, academic restructuring, up-gradation of technology, traditional technologies redefined, sharing of expertise, and innovation of technology. Whatsoever, higher education needs sustenance and quality with time and space. Sustenance and quality necessitate structural adjustment, reorientation of curriculum, multimedia approach in teaching, emphasis on research; resource mobilization; and the optimum utilization of resources (Silvia & Kashdan, 2009).

A well-developed and equitable system of higher education that promotes best quality learning as consequences of both teaching and research is central for success in the emerging knowledge economy. So, our government is responsible for providing higher education accessible to all as per constitutional rights. But Indian higher education system is always facing several challenges. The challenges of global competitiveness have been added to other demanding tasks such as equity, quality, and access to all in the face of a resource crunch. To overcome these problems, our Indian government has resorted to the privatization of the higher education system. Privatization of the higher education system has the potential to improve the quality of education as well as other relative factors.

Higher education

In India education starts from the age of six and there is no upper limit to get an education. After completing 12th in any stream candidates can get themselves enrolled in higher education. In that candidates can do graduation, postgraduation, doctoral degrees, etc., In higher education also candidates have to choices to go by the government as well privative institutes as primary, second, day, and higher secondary education.

Concept of Privatization

Generally, privatization means the initiation of private ownership, management, and control of organizations or institutions. The control is in terms of decision-making and responsibility of money and administration. The main salient feature of privatization is the gradual transformation of public enterprise into private enterprise. So, it is a process which can be defined as the transfer of activities, decision making and responsibility of money, assets, administration from public institutions or organizations to private individual and agencies.

Privatization of higher education was initiated in 1991 with the initiation of the Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) Policy Privatization of higher education has emerged in several forms and types in the recent decade in India. Privatization within government higher education institutions takes place in the form of introducing self-financing courses within government institutions. Converting government-aided private institutions into the private self-financing institution. Allowing self-financing private institutions with recognition and also without recognition. These may be termed as commercial private higher education institutions. Private players have mainly engaged themselves in setting up state private universities, deemed universities, and academic institutions with foreign collaboration. As a result of this, the privatization of higher education has been growing day today.

Objectives of the study

The objectives of this study are as follow.

1. Understanding of higher education in the contexts of private institutes.

2. Impact of privatization in higher education in India.

The emergence of the Privatization of Higher Education in India:

The private sector has emerged in the Indian scenario due to following responsible

factors.

1. Policy shifting

According to Article 45 of the constitution of India, there should be free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6-14 years. So, the focus has shifted to elementary education. As a result, the involvement of the state in higher education has been reduced.

2. Need for competitive efficiency:

The main justification for privatization rests heavily on the grounds of efficiency to promote a more competitive economic environment. The operation of public sector enterprises is considered inefficient. It is believed that private ownership and control are more efficient in terms of resource allocation and work.

3. Rapid population growth:

India has a population of nearly one hundred and thirty-five crores. To provide to a large number of people more private institutions are needed. To fulfill the demand for the higher education of young people in the country privatization of higher education is needed.

4. Quest for quality:

Private institutions do not require long procedures for the procurement of human as well as material resources. To purchase and maintain good qualitative infrastructure and equipment like furniture, buildings, different types of laboratories, and qualified and competent academic staff, who can be paid as per the demand, there is a need for privatization.

5. Rapid growth of school education:

A growing number of schools naturally pushed the demand for higher education which the 204 government is not able to provide; therefore, demand for privatization of higher education is the need of the hour.

6. Fulfilling the need for skilled manpower:

There is very little initiative from the public sector due to limited freedom. Private institutions are free to initiate modern and advanced courses to fulfill the demand for subjects that facilitate the economic development of the nation. The demands of the market and the times can be fulfilled. For this privatization is needed.

7. Paradigm shifts:

In India is steadily shifting to a fast track of economic and industrial development, which has led to several paradigm shifts in higher education, such as-

• From ‘State Controlled Education’ to an ‘Open Market Economy Education’,
• from ‘Education for Human Development’ to ‘Education for Human Resource Development
• from ‘Education for a Few’ to ‘Education for Many',
• from 'National’ to ‘Global Education’,
• from 'Institution or Teacher centered Education' to ‘Student-centered Education’,
• from 'Subsidised Education' to 'Education for a Price'.

8. Entry of Foreign Universities:

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an important tool of globalization. As the government lack funds, FD is allowed into higher education. The foreign universities are expected to bring quality infrastructure in teaching, research as well as physical infrastructure this will attract large-scale foreign investments into India and also to an extent reverse brain drain. However, the government will have to create a level playing field for all institutions and also ensure that other factors are considered. Their entry should also increase the qualities in research areas and so on, rather than focus on undergraduate programs.

Impact of Privatization of Higher Education in India

An Indian perspective there are two types of impacts of privatization of higher education-

A. Positive impact of Privatization of Higher Education

1. Easy access to high education:

Getting higher education has become easy due to the privatization number of educational institutions, that is, colleges and universities are increased. Again, different methods of communication are developed so that teaching and learning process can be done anywhere and anytime.

2. Reduce distance of educational institutions:

Privatization of higher education increases the number of educational institutions in rural and urban areas. So, the distance is decreased between educational institutions and residential places of students.

3. Relief of financial burden:

Privatization of higher education decreases the financial burden of the state and the central governments on higher education.

4. To provide quality education:

Better quality higher education can also be provided by the private sector. As we know, the government is facing an acute shortage of funds and grants given by the government for higher education has been cut on a drastic scale, and on the other side demand for higher education is increasing, the only feasible way is privatization of education. So this is the major factor responsible for it.

5. Join any course irrespective of merit:

Privatization not only increases the number of higher education institutions but also helps the students to join any courses irrespective of their merits. So, the administration is made according to their fiscal capacity, not on intellectual ability. This is the present status in most of the private educational institutions in Indian society.

6. Shaping the curriculum in accordance with global, national, and local needs:

Privatization of Higher Education will definitely expose the students and teachers to international education standards thereby throwing better opportunities for employment on a global basis as well as a national and local basis. It also will lead to greater reach to rural areas through the online education systems in the long run. The teachers think that though higher salaries may be the norm in the short period,d in the long run, it will stabilize and rationalize.

7. Free from political intervention:

Private sectors are almost independent of political interventions. According to Honourable Supreme Court, unaided professional institutes are autonomous in their administration and decisions. But they have to follow necessary guidelines notified by regulating agencies regarding admission, examination, recruitment of staff, etc.

8. Better employment:

Privatization of higher education causes the generation of employment opportunities to the graduates, post-graduates, researchers, and trainees in different fields. Generation of employment and income opportunities to educated youth is the positive impact of privatization of higher education in the Indian labor market.

9. Competition:

Privatization of higher education brings about radical structural changes providing momentum in the competitive sectors.

B. Negative Impact of Privatization in India:

Privatization has also negative impacts on higher education and society-

1. High Cost of Education:

In higher education, privatization always increases the cost of education. The authority collects different fees to increase its income. This situation is beyond the fixed capacity of poor and middle-class income groups.

2. Poor Faculty:

The main object behind the privatization of higher education is said to be a quality improvement, this object is not fulfilled. In the majority of educational institutions quality compromise is observed. Their staff is not properly qualified and provides services for fewer sums. By using such staff such institutions earn a considerable amount of profit but in return do not provide better quality education.

3. Inadequate infrastructure:

The infrastructure facilities in the self-financed college and university are inadequate and poor. Most of the colleges do not have separate buildings, especially for staff and library, no proper classroom, no technological devices, etc. Moreover, basic facilities such as drinking water, hygienic toilet, and equipped laboratories are not available in many colleges which affect the learning environment and other related objects.

4. Education a Business:

At higher education levels, Mushroom Colleges have grown rapidly. Such colleges are becoming the center for selling degrees. After paying money, you need not attend the classes. Such institutions are more in professional courses like Engineering, Pharmacy, Education and Management courses. Due to this, employers get low wages. So, the government should check these kinds of colleges in control.

5. Lack of Quality Education but restless work:

Private educational institutions do not provide education of better quality. Here one thing which is to be noted that the right to education flows directly from the right to life under article 21, and the right to life means the right to live a life of better quality and with dignity. So, this quality compromise in a private educational institution is violating the right to education.

6. Exploitation:

Private institutions also exploit the teachers and professors by paying those amounts which are not according to the amount specified by regulating agencies like UGC etc. This may lead to slackening in the efforts of teachers and professors and may finally result in the fall of the standard of education.

7. Violation of the right to education:

Privatization of higher education has resulted in a violation of the right to education. It has created a big problem in our country.

of Indian law, a capitation fee refers to the collection of payment by educational bodies not included in the prospectus of the institution, usually in exchange for admission to the institution.

8. Lack of transparency:

There is a lack of transparency in the private sector and stakeholders do not get complete information about the functionality of the enterprise.

Recommendations & Suggestions

1. Change the business mind:

It must be kept in our mind that providing education is not a business, but it is a noble service, and so private sector educational institutions should also take affirmative actions to help weaker sections to get a better-quality education. The state can make it compulsory by suitable legislation.

2. Monitoring by state:

Privatization of higher education cannot be opposed totally. The state may allow Private institutions to provide education but such institutions should be subject to the control of the state. Whenever any constitutional right including the right to education is violated by such institutions state should intervene in it.

3. Control the number of private institutions:

State by suitable legislation should fix the criteria regarding the number of private educational institutions, State’s control over it, services to be provided by them, etc.

4. Adequate infrastructure:

Those private institutions which are in existence for the sake of name only, the institutions which are engaged in corruption, and those that do not provide better quality education must be closed. If aforesaid measures are taken there will be proper control of the state over private educational institutions, the public sector can provide better quality education to all persons belonging to every level in society and private educational institutions will do their best in the field of education. It will prevent the privatization of education from being converted into capitalism. Ultimately the main object behind imparting education can be fulfilled.

5. Mandatory accreditation:

All private colleges, universities are mandatory accreditation by NAAC for improving the best quality of their provisioning of services.

Conclusion

The private initiative in education, especially higher education is not new to India. Some of the leading universities like Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University came up with the efforts, dedication, and financial support of the community, and since the 1990s; the trend towards privatization has been on a large scale.

Providing free and compulsory education to all is a basic duty of government and it cannot be neglected. So, the government has to invest more and more funds in the development of primary education. A huge cut in expenditure on higher education by the government is the direct outcome. But it doesn’t mean that higher education is not important. Government cannot absolve its responsibility of regulating private institutes. So, some regulating agencies have to be formed which assure quality and transparency and prevent profiteering. There is an emergence need to regulate quality but not the growth of supply. There is also a fact that private investors would not run an institute at a loss. If a private sector educational institute cannot at least recover its costs, it would be closed down. At the least, private institutions must be allowed to be commercial i.e. they must be allowed to break - even or make a small fair profit. If they are allowed to do so transparently, there would be no need to disguise their profit and the institute will not compromise with quality. To ensure access to higher education by a weaker section of society, the government has to increase public expenditure on higher education. On the whole, an improvement in the standards of education could be achieved through a balanced relationship between the public and private sectors. Although there are many drawbacks of privatization of higher education in India, it is sure to improve the present educational system.