Question : HIGHER EDUCATION

(a) whether it is a fact that only a small fraction of students, after obtaining graduation degrees in professional education, can enter into higher education;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the main reasons for this situation are the presence of stiff competition in Government institutions and heavy amount of donation, direct or indirect, in the case of private institutions;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the manner in which the Government proposes to provide higher education in all deserving cases?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a): Higher Education is defined as education after completion of 12 years of schooling. Professional education leading to degrees is also part of the higher education.

(b): Does not arise.

(c) & (d): The Hon’ble Supreme Court has banned collection of donation/capitation fee and profiteering in education. The UGC and other Regulatory Bodies have issued such instructions to all institutions. These measures strive to provide for equity and access to all deserving students. The fee levels in public funded institutions are very low. It may be true that some students are not able to gain admission to courses or institutions of their choice, but such a situation cannot be eliminated since quality of course/institution always attract higher number of applicants vis-à-vis the seats available.

(e): The Central Government is implementing a Scheme to provide interest subsidy for the period of moratorium on Education Loans taken by students from Economically Weaker Sections from scheduled banks under the educational Loan scheme of the Indian Banks’ Association to pursue Technical/Professional Education studies in India. The Central Government has also undertaken a major expansion in number of Centrally funded Technical Educational Institutions during the XIth Plan by setting up 8 new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 10 new National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 20 new Indian Institutes of Information and Technology(IIITs), 7 new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) etc to provide larger choice to applicants. Capacity in all Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) have been enhanced by 54% pursuant to implementation of OBC reservations in admissions.