Anomalous education infrastructure

Most of the colleges across the country are grappling with an acute shortage of admission seekers at the HSC level. Reports say only a handful of reputable colleges have found an adequate number of students, while the rest are still trying to rope in the remaining ones, going beyond normal practices in some cases.

The problem is yet another manifestation of the limitations and flaws of the education system as a whole. Obviously, colleges are an important part of the education infrastructure and if a huge number of seats in these institutions remain vacant, it is a sure sign of malfunctioning in the crucially important education sector. The investment made on setting up colleges has turned out to be counter-productive.

It has been argued that the low percentage of successful students in the last SSC examinations is the main reason behind the shortage of admission seekers at the HSC level. There is truth in the argument, but we believe some other points must also be considered. Poor planning has created a situation where the mushroom growth of colleges has badly disrupted the ideal student-college ratio. Lack of corrective steps on the part of the authorities concerned has aggravated the situation over the years.

The irony is that though too many colleges are chasing too few students, the admission seekers find very few colleges really suitable for pursuing education at the HSC level, far less a degree engagement. There are a few colleges worth the name, while a large number of them exist in name only. The 'sign-board colleges' have a hopeless record insofar as examination results are concerned and not many students are ready to take the risk of getting admitted to such institutions.

So there are colleges, but very few good ones. And it is precisely here that education planners should find vital clues as to why the so-called institutions are not finding admission seekers. The planners must set certain standards and make sure that they are complied with. The colleges or schools that have been set up to influence voters in a constituency, or to get upper hand in local politics are unlikely to serve any other purpose.

Most of the colleges do not have qualified teachers and other required facilities, including fully-stocked libraries, computers and laboratories. So, only a holistic approach towards streamlining education can solve the problems that have cropped up.