Dilemma for Indian education.....and a few laughs

‘IITs cannot throw out SC/ST students for poor performance’ - Supreme Court

This is the latest news and I was eager to share my views. We all know that reservation has been upped in educational institutions and now almost 50% the seats are reserved, leaving a pitiful rest for the large general category (one of the reasons why I love BITS). The above judgment seems fine since the SC/ST students, once taken in by the institute, are its responsibility. They need to be provided with additional coaching and other facilities to get them on par with the students of general category (as BTech could be done within two years, in addition to the prescribed time).

The basic and inherent assumption of these actions is the fact that since they got into the IIT's, they can work hard and have considerable intellect. What we require to do is to show them the path, possibly guide them, and remove any inhibitions rooted by factors external to education. But what if the student is not capable of managing education at a higher standard? After all, that is what the JEE does, ascertain whether the student has the basic capabilities.

In the previous years, after JEE, hundreds of seats remained unfilled due to fact that only so many qualified from the reservation category, even after the generously reduced cut-off mark. There was a lot of discussion at that time in the country. Yet the management was intent on further reducing the cut-off mark to accommodate more students from the reservation category, but did not plan to recruiting any students from the general category who could have filled the gap. Also since the setup of the new IIT's, as such 'dilution of standard' is already underway. All these issues only add up to further dilution.

Of course, none can expect any new institution to just take off in flying colours. Dilution of standards is just another feature of the developing stages. What I meant to say was that leniency in recruiting can make that development take longer. The intention is right in promoting the lower classes but not at the cost of one the best institutions in the country. The amount of resources spent per student is considerable and care should be taken to avoid losses. I am not implying that the reason for the SC judgment stated above is due to the irregular intake. No, I am hinting on what can happen if such things continue.

Instead on banking on short term plans to promote the reserved categories, the country should aim at making students from these classes eligible for the IIT's. Rather than lowering the bar of institutions, they should plan to raise the standard of students. Thus making sure they don't rely excessively on the reduced cut-off to get through. For that you need good higher school education and we will finally end up at the grassroot level. This is exactly where the reservation should be acted upon and its where the maximum benefits can be reaped. Reservation should become lesser and lesser as we climb up into the upper echelons of the country's infrastructure. But we find that the situation is a bit reversed in our country. Reservation at higher levels will, in cases, hamper the growth of the merited and deserving. I know its a long process, but that is whats best.

We should keep in mind that our fathers, who introduced the concept of reservation, intended to be a tool to someday bring the classes into balance. They envisaged equal opportunity to all one day. But thanks to our incompetence, we have not been able to achieve that. What is more pathetic is that I presume no party plans to end it at all. I dread that they will secretly scheme and make sure that the reservation system stands for ages, providing them with political fuel for run for a long time. And time has shown that my dread is true, in many parts. And the government is not the only culprit, we are too. I only hope for a better future.

Talking is a lot easier, people say. But only if there's talk, people will know where to walk!



-----On the lighter side, this is what happened recently,

Indian: “Did we went to that hotel yesterday?”

Another Indian: “Yes, we go”

(For those don't know English :P , both of them did go the hotel!)


------Not a joke, so don't laugh.

Well, after sneezing I generally used to say “excuse me” but I've recently changed it. I started saying “swine flu” after sneezing, not to terrify people around me(thats a sarcastic side-effect) but just to amuse myself! Its working wonders (lest no one hits me)!