Editorial

In a recent survey of centre of learning, among the top institutions of the country for engineering, medical research and management are private institutions. They did better than many IIT's. We were happy that at last there will be no dearth of good centres of higher studies.

Now when some institutions were found to be demanding 6 to 20 lakhs of rupees for a medical seat and a crore or two for a post graduate seat, not only it is a serious corruption but its direct result is creation of doctors who have to make a few crores very fast. After all they have also to educate their children. This 'donation' will also be insurance for getting good marks because if a single student who paid this donation fails in his exam, the institution will never get other students who are ready to pay. Corruption breeds corruption.

The referees in The controlling committees do not cry foul or blow their whistles as they are expected to do. The problems of higher education do not stop here. Many deemed universities got the lag before they started admissions- Some institutions not passed by one committee got the status after a second committee was appointed.

Scrapping UGC or knowledge commission to allow a number of centres of learning will be a serous mistake. On the other hand. the centres should be told to improve their facilities and standard of teaching.

To encourage private institutions the Supreme Court allowed them to admit 15% management quota students. Demanding donation is also illegal. Some institutes have interpreted that 15% corrupt admissions are allowed.

The only way to combat this system is to expand rapidly every IIT and all research departments in universities, CSIR and medical institutes so that no student having merit has to depend on private institutions who demand donations.

Education is a fundamental right of every student. The government has a duty to support them. There can be no 85% or 90% of the fulfillment of this duty. Our maths says less than 100% is zero. Either a light is on or off No intermediate position is satisfactory.