REFORMS NEEDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA

We have seen in the past some of the teachers in the higher learning institutions have produced outstanding scholars. During those days there was no NAAC, there was no academic audit and no attendance and yet they produced talented students from the institutions. The students came out from the academic institutions were with self confidence. The present ratio of student: teacher in the country is almost 20:1, colleges having about 4, 21,000 teachers and universities 79,000. More than 25% colleges’ and almost 35% universities’ teaching positions nationwide are vacant, and 57% of college and 22% university teacher lack either a master’s or Ph.D. degree. India’s one of the major wealth is youth (18-40 years of age) which presently stands at almost 80 million, 62% of the total population (127 million, male 65.6 million and female 61.4%). Despite growing education, 25% of its population is still illiterate; and just 18% go college and university. The quality of higher education is significantly poor. India’s post secondary institutions offer only enough seats for 7% of India’s college-age population