Despite being one of the world’s ancient centers of knowledge, the Indian education system continues to be heavily commercialized across all states of the country. The narrative of the commercialization of education is not just a concern for elite schools and private institutions but extends throughout the spectrum of educational offerings, from primary to higher education, affecting students and families nationwide.
“Earlier, nobody had any pressure to study in a private school. School fees in government institutions used to be affordable. With times, none wants to study in a government school. I feel that private institutions have eyed this as an opportunity to charge higher fees”
Varadharajan [Aged 63] (Chennai)
Many others like Varadharajan continue to hold the same thought. Private school fees have begun to touch 80,000 for grades as simple as Pre-KG. Another parent, who wishes to go anonymous, has expressed his shock upon hearing the school fees of a private school in Chennai, which quoted a shocking amount of 1.5 lakhs for a seventh grade student.
Despite all the exploitative fees, many parents still continue to send their students to such schools in the hope that their kids will get to live a life that they couldn’t live.
I couldn’t afford to go to school. I barely passed tenth. Life had been difficult for a very long time. The world has become competitive, it is not possible to survive without education. I don’t want my kids to suffer the same fate as I had been through
-Saravanan (Name changed)
Tier-I and Metro cities suffer the most
The burden of commercialization is most heavily felt in Tier-I and metro cities, where private schools and colleges are in abundance. These urban centers, though rich in opportunities, often make education a luxury rather than a right. In these cities, educational institutions, especially in the fields of engineering and medicine, have become increasingly profit-driven. As a result, many students and their families are subjected to exorbitant fees that surpass their financial capacity.
Donations – although they are not valid in India, but they are still being accepted. A tier-3 college charges as high as 10 lakhs for a Computer Science [Btech/BE -CSE/IT seats]. Tuition fees and other fees find their way inside as well.
This, not only burns a hole in the pocket of parents, but also does not contribute anything to the economy apart from revenue. The students of tier-3 colleges do not learn anything as their system is sub-par with other colleges, and in the end stay up behind their peers . Exceptions do arise though, but they cannot be normalized to others.
Student leave India for better Opportunities
In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of Indian students leaving the country to pursue higher education and better career opportunities abroad.One of the primary reasons why Indian students opt to study abroad is the perceived higher quality of education in foreign institutions, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and several European countries. While India has many prestigious universities, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the competition for a seat in these institutions is fierce, and they can only accommodate a small fraction of applicants. Moreover, the level of education in many private and lesser-known institutions in India often fails to meet global standards in terms of infrastructure, faculty, and research facilities.
Ultimately, education should empower individuals, irrespective of geographic boundaries, to achieve their full potential.
Also read – The urgent need for work-life balance in India
Leave a Reply