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Challenges in Higher Education in India

By UGCNETPAPER1 Team

5-6 minutes

Higher education in India has achieved a remarkable level

since independence. In terms of the number of institutions,
quality of education and enrolments’ things have improved
drastically. Government is regularly putting in efforts with the
help of Institutional and infrastructural support to the
education sector.

As per a report of MHRD, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in India

has raised to 18.8%, however, there is still a long way to go
when comes to comparing the percentage at the global level
this percentage is less by 6 %.

The bodies like National Knowledge Commission (NKC),

Yashpal Committee etc have been formed with the objective to
bring reforms in the education sector. However, such
recommendations have seldom been implemented until they
are outdated.

India is proudly delivering quality education to many graduates-

postgraduates through top institutions like- IITs, NITs, IIMs,
State Universities etc. But then where is the flaw in the whole
structure, that is needed to be known.
Challenges In Higher Education In India

Problems with Higher Education in India

Among a number of challenges and issues, hereby a few are

listed as below-

Supply-Demand imbalance-

India is a blessed country in terms of demographic dividend.

Its youth population is more in number than the population
below 14 and above 59. It means the independent population
is high than the dependent. This should pay the benefit to India
but again the worst imbalance in supply-demand is spoiling the
show.

A huge pool of young peoples that can be converted as the

biggest strength in the form of the workforce for development
purpose but ironically it is working another way around.

A large population is unemployed due to poor skills and quality

they hold. Even their skills are not matching the current trends
of the industry so there is a huge imbalance in the supply-
demand side of the workforce.

Mushrooming of Low-Quality Institutes-

Next in the row is Mushrooming of low-quality institutes

throughout all the country which are no doubt generate next
unemployable persons. Running an institution has become a
lucrative business option and on the basis of high advertising
tools, many poor-quality institutions are able to secure
admissions. It is actually killing the very spirit of higher
education industry which was otherwise meant to produce only
qualified professionals. Such colleges are just factories to
product unemployed population and meant to fill their own
pockets only.

Less focus on Vocational courses-

Because of lack of knowledge and awareness students don’t

go for vocational courses. Rather they believe in routine ways
of education. Neither any real project-based learning is given to
the students. However, many young graduates must learn new
skills there in the market especially vocational skills so they
can secure jobs easily. Just theory learning will not help,
practical application of the knowledge should rather more be
focused.

However, with the schemes like PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri

Kaushal Vikas Yojana) many self- employment based short
training centres have been opened by the government to get a
job to the youth.

Rhetoric Strategy and Poor implementation-

Our educations policy documents are full of rhetoric literature.

There seems to be no place for the real numbers. Moreover, in
spite of many committees and commissions, there is no room
for the implementation on ground level. It remains only at
snail’s pace.

Slow sanction and under-utilization of Funds-

There is always a hue and cry in universities over the flow of

grants. However, even if there is money to be spent it is majorly
spent on flaunting rather than the real and meaningful things.
Everyone is well aware of march rush when universities rush to
spend money in order to prevent it from lapse once the
financial year is over.

Proper recognition of quality research-

Higher education institutions are meant to promote research

and that research should be utilized in industries for the
collective advancement. With the fake research models, the
level of research is regularly coming done, and those who do
real work are also discouraged.

High place of Nepotism in Selections-

Quality work and high-level professional skills are put

secondary when it comes to recruiting the permanent posts at
the university level. Money power, political connections play the
notable role and thus the major talented stuff of the country is
forced to divert its direction and look towards either private
institutions or abroad.