Prevailing condition of higher education and possible ways to remedy it.
Existing Conditions:
Closing of the educational institute due to the pandemic.
Focus is on Home based learning.
Focus should be on accessible and affordable home based education along with complete reform of education.
Objective of Education:
Providing knowledge in the relevant discipline to the students.
The education imparted to the students will need to be supplemented with the skills needed for their jobs/enterprises.
Mould characters of students.
Make them able to play a constructive role in shaping the society and the world at large using the values and ideals of a modern, progressive society.
Concern with Higher Education:
Small number of self-motivated students.
Poor learning among the large number of students.
Huge gulf between the curriculums taught in the colleges and actual job requirements.
Lack of skills or knowledge to add to employability of students in order to reap the demographic dividend.
Focus on completion of the syllabus without concern of outcomes.
Undue emphasis on examinations to evaluate students’ knowledge.
Way Forward:
Re-evaluate the syllabus every now and then to ensure that the syllabus is in line with the industrial requirements.
Emphasis on substantive industrial internships as part of the course work in colleges.
The evaluation of the learning outcomes of the students can be a mix of regular assignments, performance in the internship as rated both by the industry and the college, and a light, home-based proctored exam.