REFORMS NEEDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA

We have seen in the past some of the teachers in the higher learning institutions have
produced outstanding scholars. During those days there was no NAAC, there was no academic
audit and no attendance and yet they produced talented students from the institutions. The
students came out from the academic institutions were with self confidence. The present ratio of
student: teacher in the country is almost 20:1, colleges having about 4, 21,000 teachers and
universities 79,000. More than 25% colleges’ and almost 35% universities’ teaching positions
nationwide are vacant, and 57% of college and 22% university teacher lack either a master’s or
Ph.D. degree.
India’s one of the major wealth is youth (18-40 years of age) which presently stands at
almost 80 million, 62% of the total population (127 million, male 65.6 million and female
61.4%). Despite growing education, 25% of its population is still illiterate; and just 18% go                       
college and university. The quality of higher education is significantly poor. India’s post secondary institutions offer only enough seats for 7% of India’s college-age population.