JOIN USIndia has more institutes but less enrolment than USA and China
In India anything can happen, as the country is not democratic but over democratic, said Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences former vice-chancellor, Dr S Ramananda Shetty delivering the foundation day lecture at Mangalore University on Monday.
Pointing out that India is lagging behind with regard to higher education inspite of having some of the best institutes, Dr Shetty said there are too many regulatory bodies which try to control the education system.
When one tries to expand and progress, there are too many councils to satisfy which cause delay. The education policy was framed in 1968, but was adopted in 1986. “One should question, why there is a delay as it is a matter of concern,” he said.
Comparing the enrolment in India, China and the USA, he said there are 31,324 higher education institutions in India, 4,297 in China and 6,742 in the USA. However, the gross enrolment ratio is the poorest in India which is 14 per cent as compared to China and the USA which stands at 20 per cent and 82 per cent respectively, he said.
Speaking about the health care sector, Dr Shetty said that there is a shortage of 10 lakh doctors and two million nurses in India.
“The medical institutions are spread disproportionately. In India there are 315 medical colleges in 188 districts.However, 454 districts do not have a medical college,” he said and added that DK district has eight medical Colleges and hence people here are not deprived of medical facilities.
He also pointed out that according to the Kothari Committee’s recommendation in 1964, six per cent of the countries GDP had to be earmarked for education. Sadly, only 3.5 per cent GDP has been earmarked for education at present, of which 0.66 per cent is earmarked for higher education. The Universities are suffering due to lack of funds, he said.
To address the shortage of doctors in the rural areas the Ministry of Health has proposed to start a rural MBBS course. The duration of the course will be three-and-a-half years, he said.
To provide quality education every University needs autonomy, academic freedom and accountability, he said and added that it may not happen as India is an over democratic country.
Presiding over the programme, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Professor T C Shivashankara Murthy stressed on the need for expansion of higher education, excellence, inclusive education and including communication technology in education. Mangalore University is the fourth best University in the country in the field of research and publication work, he said.
High end laptops were distributed to 146 professors and associate professors in the University. The internet protocolphone facility which connects all the departments of the university was launched on the occasion.