Political interference in Education sector

Sir,
This has reference to the news item’Poor outcomes in edu mainly due to political interference’ (DE, June18, 2016). It is sad to read that according to the committee set up by the HRD Ministry and headed by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramaniam,political interference is almost ‘certainly’the most important reason for poor outcomes in education sector.
According to the report of the Committee, ‘political intervention from all levels is all pervasive in selecting location of institutions,approval of grant-in-status,selection of examination centres and in all senior appointments and in many states from VC to College Principals to District Edu.Officers’.The Committee ,set up to give suggestions for the New Education Policy (NEP) has also said that it is ‘undeniable’that there is large scale corruption in appointments, transfers, approval to affiliate and grant recognition of institutions even going to the extent of manipulation of exam results. All these observations donot paint a good picture of Education sector in India.Political interference in appointments,transfers and other fields in the education sector certainly retards the academic growth of academic institutions,especially,universities and higher institutions of learning,whose main objective should be the creation and dissemination of knowledge and not just to prepare students to get through the exams.In such a scenario, the most deserving,efficient,honest and meritorious officers are ignored and undeserving people given the key posts which adversely affects the quality of education.
Perhaps that is the reason why few of our universities and other institutions of higher learning donot figure among the top hundred such institutions at the global level,despite huge investments in this vital sector.The government should take the report seriously,depoliticise the education sector and devise such a mechanism by which only the efficient and most deserving people are given the key postings such as VCs and officers in the Education Department at the State,Provincial and District level to rejuvenate our system of education to bring it at par with the best education systems across the world .Universities ought to be allowed to serve as real seats of learning free from political interference ;where focus is on creativity and research and not on cracking the exam;where there is culture for learning and searching;where faculty members and students are actively involved in decision making and where fully trained,capable and employable graduates and postgraduates are produced.
Yours etc…..
Ashok Sharma,
Flat No 4,Housing Colony, Udhampur.

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