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Privatisation Of Higher Education Is The Main Aim
Privatisation Of Higher Education Is The Main Aim
NATIONAL Knowledge Commission (NKC) has recently submitted its annual report to the prime minister. The NKCs Report to the Nation 2006 states that destiny of India is in the hands of 550 million people below the age of 25 who will benefit the most from the new knowledge initiatives. The proportion of our population, in the age group 18-24, that enters the world of higher education is around 7 per cent, which is only one-half the average for Asia. The NKC therefore recommends creation of 1500 universities nationwide, that would enable India to attain a gross enrolment ratio of at least 15 per cent by 2015.
The NKC has given recommendations regarding reforms in existing public universities, undergraduate colleges, regulatory structure, financing, quality, creation of national universities as centres of academic excellence and access to marginalised and excluded groups. However, the initiatives or prescriptions provided by the NKC in its report are contrary to the purpose. These prescriptions are no different than those provided by the infamous Birla-Ambani report or the concept paper for the Model Act for all the universities in India. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse and discuss each block of recommendations of the NKC Report.
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