Rise and decline of India's state university system: neglect, design or neglect by design?

摘要

As teachers, researchers, academicians and citizens who are deeply troubled by the present state of our education system, we make an attempt to (a) describe the current state of health of India’s education system as evidenced from the condition of the state universities and the higher education system, (b) analyse why and how the state universities have come to this state, (c) probe consequences of this downhill evolution if it continues unchecked, and (d) describe possible solutions for reviving it and setting it on the right path. These are our personal views that have evolved over the length of our careers as teachers and researchers. Respecting the complex nature of the problem, we have made no attempt at completeness or scholarliness. We have tried, however, to maintain objectivity and neutrality as much as possible, with the hope of bringing out the essence of the problem (as we understand it) as sharply as possible. We further hope that this will provide enough grounds for introspection and for healthy debate in the community, which will, in turn, result into widespread and far-reaching corrective measures aimed at salvaging our education system in its entirety: It is not a matter of choice when it comes to securing the future, personal or collective.