PPA against privatization of education sector

Our Correspondent

Itagar, January 31: The PPA as a lone regiol party in the state has seriously viewed the state government decision privatization of university.

“The state is young and is still in the stage of state in the making. To introduce privatization of universities at this juncture is to open the floodgates of commercialization of education sector to various abuses like steep hike in students’ fees, capitation fees, exploitation of professors etc,” party’s president Kahfa Bengia said in a meeting convened to discuss the  introduction of ‘The Global University Aruchal Pradesh Bill,’ in the assembly.

“A Steep hike in fees does not ensure higher education that are accessible, acquitable and affordable to all. Besides commoditization of education may lead to the excessive emphasis on skill, employment and corporate oriented education at the cost of basic sciences and the vast pool of traditiol knowledge that would create an imbalance amounts various streams of learning,” he pointed out.

“Sometimes, private institutions also employ unethical practices to increase the number of student in their institutes. They admit the students by charging exorbitant amount as capitation fee and ignore standard admission procedures like entrance test, merit test, interviews etc. These practices will harm does who cannot afford capitation fee of the institutes and ultimately brilliant students will remain deprive of higher education,” he said.

“It is important to note that in USA and UK drive for efficiency and profits are categorically powerful among the private higher education providers. But in developing countries like India, only profit factor drives these institutes and efficiency is poorly neglected. Private institutes have their focus on quantity but not in quality. This is an issue that needs to be discussed and debate at length involving academicians, student bodies and other civil organizations,” commented Kaling Jerang, party’s general secretary.

“Privitalisation of University should be opted in a phase manner, if at all required. The state has no dearth of students unions like AAPSU, ANSU, GSU, ADISU– it is painful to see these organizations keeping mum on issues directly related to the interest of the students’ carrier,” added Jerang.