Come end of May to July. It is not just the monsoon time in India. It is also the time when a major change takes place in the lives of thousands of students (and, of course, their parents). Yes, we are here talking about admission in Professional Colleges

A number of entrance tests are conducted and a lucky few make it to the College and field of study of their choice. The not-so-lucky ones either wait another year to try their hand once again at the entrance exams hoping to secure a seat in some college. Alternatively some change their very choice of field of study. The reason I call them ‘lucky’ or ‘not-so-lucky’ is because, in India, where education has become more commercialized, and where the number of seats available are grossly limited compared to the number of students aspiring for admission, it takes luck more than merit. If you do find it difficult to accept this, call it lots of money that one needs to have.

It is common knowledge that money plays a vital role than merit as it forms the basis of securing admission to private colleges. Whereas in Government Institutions admission is purely on the basis of merit, most private institutes are run rather on the power of money or contacts or on caste basis etc. That is not to say that all private colleges provide admission only to students with contacts or those who are rich. Indeed some meritorious students do gain admission in private colleges purely on the basis of merit. They, however form quite a small percentage.
India has a population of over 1 billion people. Of this a little less than half is in the age group of college-going students. Also, in terms of number of institutes, India has one of the largest Systems for Higher Education
in the world.
Consider the statistics: there are 17,973 institutions (348 universities and
17,625 colleges). Of these, there are 63 unaided Deemed Universities
and 7650 are unaided private colleges.
Yet, after passing HSC, only a little more than 11.9% of these students pursue higher education in India. This is so primarily because:-
· Admission in to government colleges is based purely on merit, but the number of seats available in these colleges is extremely limited.                                                                                       
· Alternatively students have to look to the ever-increasing private colleges, but here though there are more seats, they are often given to the highest bidders or on caste basis or to rich NRIs. Consequently only the rich and elite few find it possible to secure admission in private colleges.                                     
· As a result, the rest of the prospective student population has to forego the advantages of higher education.                                                                                               

The system of education introduced by the British in India in the 19th century was motivated mainly by their political, administrative and economic needs. The colonial policy neither aimed at developing India into an industrial nation, nor did it provide for medical and technical education.
The thin growth in education under the British was sought to be corrected after Independence. A need was felt for professional and technical manpower to meet the requirements of a developing economy. Thus, the government set up the IITs, Regional Engineering Colleges and Medical Colleges.

However, efforts of the State in this regard, proved woefully inadequate with just about 3% of its GDP invested in education. Given such paucity of state funding, private initiative in education was permitted within the constitutional framework to supplement the State effort. Most of such private initiatives came from caste-based associations of lower and middle castes who wanted to ensure the socio-economic upliftment of their own caste. This paved the way for the entry of casteism in private college admission.

The growth of private professional colleges began in the 1950s. The main objective behind the setting up of such institutions was to promote political power and gain material benefits and social prestige for the caste groups.

However, over a period of time these objectives underwent change and acquired an entrepreneurial character wherein profit motive started being the main factor. The economic status of the parents became the single-most important determinant in the selection of students in such private professional colleges. Even among the students of their own castes, these private colleges began discriminating on the basis of the student’s capacity to pay. This is where money started being preferred over merit.
The situation today, though a tad bit better, is hardly any different. Private colleges have been allowed complete autonomy in their administration. Which means. they devise their own fee structure and admission process with certain checks laid down by law, such as private colleges to be non-profiteering and admit students on the basis of merit and have a transparent process However, in reality these norms are openly flouted by many of the private colleges, thanks largely to the political clout they enjoy. Consequently, the private colleges continue to maximize their profits in their own ways. Their entrance tests are no more than a farce and in reality a major portion of the seats, which otherwise should have been given to meritorious students, continue to be given to those who can afford them or on caste basis. Merit, thus, takes a back seat.

Again charging of capitation fee by private colleges has been abolished by law. Yet it continues to be charged, donations are taken and seats are sold to the highest bidders. For e.g., the going rate for a seat in medicine is Rs. 25.5 Lakh; a post-graduate level seat for the top notch branch of MB Radiology has reportedly been secured for the yet-highest amount of Rs.1.2 Crores.

A close interplay of caste, class and power in education also assumes significance. Earlier the managements of these colleges maintained a close link with vested interests – caste leaders, politicians, businessmen and government officials. Community and caste colleges were often supported by religious leaders and their mutts and served as vote banks for caste leaders. While such parochial and commercial interests continued to prevail, the state governments were only able to create an appearance of a balancing act between the demands of the various pressure groups, and they sanctioned more of such private colleges. Even today caste continues to play an important role in admission to private colleges.

While privatization in higher education is much needed, it comes with its own price. Unfortunately as privatization increases, The Number of government colleges and funds allocated by Government to education decrease. For example, in Maharashtra, in the medical field, in 1999 the numbers of seats available were 1,191. This was reduced to 632 in 2007 and 411 in 2008. The reason given by Medical council of India (MCI) was that as per laid norms some of these were not recognized. However, after a case was registered with the Supreme Court of India in this regard earlier this year, the number of seats have now been increased.

All said and done, the ones who have to bear the brunt of the whole process are the students. Nevertheless, India as a country also loses out. The statistics are enormous. For e.g., in a Government medical college in Nagpur, Maharashtra, the number of seats available are a mere 6-7 (it was 1 before the afore-mentioned Supreme Court decision) as against 8000 students applying for those seats from Maharashtra alone. A majority of these students who fail to get any one of those seats are unable to apply to private colleges because of the money involved. Which means, money has an edge over merit, playing havoc for the development of the country as a whole in the long run.

Another worrisome factor is the low quality of education offered at least in some of the private colleges, notwithstanding the high fee charged. Needless to state, the products of such colleges turn out to be substandard.
 
That merit has taken a back seat in securing admission in private professional colleges is evident more in the case in medical and engineering colleges than in other professional courses. A possible reason could be the craze of the parents for these fields.

To conclude, one might state that while merit is protected in government colleges it is not the case in private colleges. But the already limited seats in government colleges are being increasingly forfeited in favor of private colleges. Even after admission, especially in medicine and engineering, education in most of these private colleges is of substandard quality.

The solution lies in the Government bringing the private colleges under rein. Otherwise, the only choice left to the students would be to study harder and pray even harder, hoping to secure a seat on merit. 

The Views expressed in this article are of the writer’s own and not endorsed by the Editorial Team of TCG. However, opinions of the readers are welcome.