IE : Social blocks crippling education system :  Oct 8,2007

Social blocks crippling education system'

 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
OCTOBER 7

EXPRESSING concern over the state of education system in India, renowned
sociologist Andre Béteille said that there were two main obstacles crippling
the Indian education system: social and academic impediments.
"Access to education is restricted by race, class, caste and gender. This is
hampering the education system. In Indian schools, girls are often
discouraged from taking up various courses. This was the case during my
student days, and it continues to remain so today," Béteille, an ex student
of Calcutta University, said, comparing the condition to that of
universities like Harvard and Stanford where women slightly outnumbered men.
Béteille was speaking at a talk organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for
Contemporary Studies on 'Access to Education' at the Indian Council of
Social Science Research in the University of Mumbai, on Friday.
Author of 17 books and a former instructor at the Delhi School of Economics,
Béteille also pointed out that financial constraints and indiscipline
(irregularity, teacher absenteeism etc) are detrimental to the growth of the
education system, adding that institutions of higher education needed to
become socially inclusive.
However, the scholar felt that higher education could not expand unless the
basics - the primary education system - was in place. "For this, I believe
that access to elementary education should be made available without any
consideration for merit, performance and ability," he said, emphasising,
"The government needs to put in more attention and money into elementary and
secondary education. Maintaining regularity and discipline in schools is
also a must."
University of Mumbai Vice Chancellor V Khole who was present at the talk
pointed out at financial constraints as one of the main problems that Indian
universities face and agreed with Béteille that universities needed to
become socially inclusive in order to pass on the benefits to the students.
Publication : IE; Section : MN; Pg : 3; Date : 8/10/07
URL :
http://70.86.150.130/indianexpress/ArticleText.aspx?article=08_10_2007_522_004