Should Government take up the cost of Higher education in India??

I do agree that individuals should pay for their higher education. But only a few taking this burden in the name of caste/community, they are hardly 10% and remaining 90% are enjoying.  The Govt. has the responsibility to provide equal opportunities to its citizens.  The poor but deserved candidates shall be given the free education.  Poverty has nothing to do with caste.

I accept your views and also the views of Mr. Badri N Srinivasan.

Thanks for the referral Ms.Disha Roy.

Very correctly said Ms. Disha.

I support your view.

Mr. Urvish,

National Loan Scholarship Scheme is already in vogue. It is for the talented students. IN ADDITION TO IT, GOVT ANNOUNCED BANK LOANS WITHOUT INTEREST / SECURITY for students to support their cause to pursue higher education either in India /abroad. Some states announced free education up-to pre-university level. I do not know how many states follow this. But it is in Tamilnadu. These are the ways a govt can make an affordable education. It can not be made free. Just, I quote the recent incident ,that may wake-up guys.

When the Supreme Court advised to distribute, " Food stuffs going waste due to poor / inadequate storage facility". Govt. ruled out that, it can not be supplied free of cost but, can be supplied at the reduced rate to various state through PDS(PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SHOP). If thats the case, how do you expect, Education can go free. Particularly, after Education, it is one who got educated gets benefits?. So, affordable education with good standard is , the need of the hour.For which the benefactor is to pay.

It is very happy to get a chance of answering this debate,every year indian government is announcing a huge allocation of fund for education in budget,but if we noticied that till now so many young brilliants are in dark room,recently our one of the central minister summarised that out of 100%,25% of fund alone is given to our state,but we have to deeply think how much of poor and medium class youngsters got this opporutunity it is very few in numbers.Can any of the nationalised bank or regional offices replied that  we are issuing loans without security and seurity,bcoz those funds are issued to bank staffs,govt staffs etc,if we take a analysis through NDTV,CBN etc of studying abroad students, most students those who are belong to govt authorities or officers is studying in abroad.so better individual will pay for their higher studies.

Good topic Disha. I agree with you. Educational loans should be easily accessible and cheaper.

Actually, in India it is the opposite of what is happening in developed nations. Out here the school education is very expensive whereas the college education (regular arts & science course) is inexpensive (comparatively).

Take the school fee for a KG class. It is around Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 per month. This, plus the bus fee, special fee, donation, etc., etc., makes the parent to spend around Rs. 2,000 pm. This works out to around Rs. 18 to Rs. 24 thousand per annum. In some cases it is around Rs. 60,000 per annum. Now, as the child grows the fee too grows and in some schools it works out to around Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 1,50,000. Now this is for the school. So, in order to educate the child from KG to 12^th, the parent has to spend around Rs. 8 lakhs. Whereas, the parent only spends less than around Rs. 50,000 for the child’s 3 year college education.

This is the irony in our education system.

The government must subsidise the school education. Schools must be ordered to pay more to its teachers to be eligible for the subsidy. Also, give tax benefits to schools and its teachers. And then, make college education very expensive, so that only deserving candidates join up for higher education. Like in the US, here too, make sure that those who are very good get scholarship. Others pay up.

This would make graduation meaningful. And then we can say “Osss zamane ke graduate jeisa aaj ka graduate be hei”.

I am in total agreement with you Disha. In order to stop brain drain the govt. should reduce the cost of higher education, which as on date like any other profit making business, and ensure all the aspiring students get a loan on nominal interest for a much longer repayment say 25 years.

By doing this as we will be able to keep the brains with us it will be a vibrant India tomorrow.

Individuals should decide how to fund their higher education based on the requirements. The Govt. should support basic education for all the members. However, at the next level (higher education - Masters/Doctoral programs), loans are also available and the individual who decides to pursue the program can avail and repay the loans. This will help to focus the scarce govt. funds in other focused developmental programs. This is based on the premise that after completing basic education, the individual has the capacity to survive and fund his education and other activities in the future and it does not necessarily require additional governmental intervention to make the higher education program successful or viable.

Depending on the market and individual requirements, the individual can decide on his capacity to undertake higher education. However, if in the future, all other developmental programs have been fulfilled by the govt. then the govt. may explore the possibility of taking up the funding of the higher education programs..... 

Education is a service, I do understand. Also that, it is a right of every citizen. But , the present day outlook, mainly saying of information explosion & the introduction of media's & technical methods, changed ," Education" in different perspective. Also, it needs to compete with Global requirement (on par with other Nation's ranking). At this juncture, the duty of the state & the center is to ensure a better solution to acquire good education.

Education is in the common-list to be shared by Center & the State.Paying for  education & buying people is not a good idea too (indirectly saying it is a bond between govt. & student to work). It is not a healthy & competitive situation also.

When so many foreign universities are opening a kiosk here , it is mandatory to offer a competitive environment to education        ( price, facility, infrastructure & standard). For which state govt is  ready to incur so much money but, not a free higher education may be, an affordable education.

Moreover, if higher education is made free, the chances of coming up of, so many, higher learning institutions will reduce very much that means reducing, indirectly, the infrastructure. So, what I conclude is that,

• Student is to pay for the quality of education that one opt for
• State, in conjunction with center needs to rationalize an affordable higher education to all.
• More & more, higher learning institutions has to come up so that , everybody is literate at higher level.
• Making free higher education  is not desirable in the light of coming up of, foreign universities.

thx for the referral disha. i agree that there is really no case fro the state to foot the bil for higher education. it would be nice if the governing body could ensure that 100 pc get basic school education. beyond that i guess although there is a lot desired but issues of practicability would come in. if we can device an incorruptibly method of identification of aptitude and talent, maybe govt sponsored loans at easier rates could be thought of - freebies NO !! they send out wrong messages. those are my two pennies. regards