ON SELF-FINANCING OF

The Indian Educational System at a Glance: The Indian educational system is spectacularly large. It has about 8.38 lakh primary/middle schools, 2.66 lakh secondary/higher secondary schools and 7.2 thousand tertiary schools (i.e. institutions imparting graduate and post-graduate general education). In 1998, the number of universities/Institutions (including those deemed to be Universities/Institutions) of national importance was 229. The number of institutions imparting technical/professional education also is equally impressive. The system has over 600 engineering/technology colleges, near 100 agriculture and forestry colleges and about 450 medical colleges. Over 6.5 thousand institutions impart professional/vocational and technical training/diplomas. Teachers in primary, secondary and higher secondary schools undergo training in teaching. For such training, there are about 850 institutions. The enrolment figures in these institutions also are very impressive. In 1998, primary and middle schools enrolled 151.1 million pupils, while secondary/higher secondary schools enrolled 27.2 million of them. The enrolment in tertiary schools (imparting general education-graduation and above) was 5.7 million students. In the institutions of professional education, the enrolment figures are: engineering (degree)- 1.39 lakh; engineering (diploma) – 1.86 lakh