Education is beyond any doubt the best investment for future development for the state and society. Education which is also termed as Human resource development is the key and source for developing nations of the world. The system of Education has to be shaped properly for shaping the future citizens of the state. It must be able to prepare, train and condition the youth of the state to take over and carry the system of the society in right perspective.
In this age of Science and Technology, the youth of the state needs to be prepared with the values and traditions of the society and the latest technological knowledge of the world. He must be shaped to reflect the socio-cultural ethos of our society and be also able to adjust in the global village.No doubt our state has been doing well in Education and quality wise we were ahead of a large number of States of India, (with exception of last 15, years.). Thank God we have been very fast in making up the losses and are once again to catch the leaders in this field.
Our students are competing well at National and International levels and our teachers are among the best in country and posse’s High calibre and capability. With exponential growth in human knowledge, advancement in means of communication and shrinking distances, the educational horizons have also opened up. Students travel long distances from State to state and country to country for getting quality education and latest technological know how.Like other services, education has also found better nourishment in private sector both for the supplier and the consumer. Privatization is the future course for quality services in all fields of life.
The role of Government/state in providing different services to its citizens has changed to a proper regulatory authority. Privatization invokes and ensures direct accountability and maintains continuous pressure for improvement and excellence in the services. Education beyond any doubt can be one of the biggest industries of our state and Kashmir valley in particular.Very few people know that presently more than one lakh Kashmiri students are persuing different academic and professional courses in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, some other states and even abroad. On an average every student spends At least Rs.5000= per month on Fees/Board & lodging, which amounts to about 50, crore each month for one lakh students and Rs.600/ - crores per year, which is being send outside the state regularly.
Considering the topography, natural set up, environment and other resources, the valley cannot have large or even medium level industries. The Traditional cottage industries of producing world famous handicrafts need to be revived and organized on modern lines to create opportunities of employment for young talented youth. No doubt, that tourist industry, when planned and equipped properly can be the largest industry and backbone of the state. In addition, education also can be a large industry and source of income and employment in our state. I have no doubt that peace is a pre- condition for establishing this and other industries. Believe me that we have already begun to attract students from other states in different courses, more particularly the B. Ed course.
Though we are aware, that “well begun is half done” why then have we made a mass of these B. Ed colleges. During last two or three years “ several stories have been said about their working and aspersion cast without looking deep into the whole affair.No doubt in the beginning some of these colleges were established by some laymen with poor infrastructure and because of lack of proper guidance from government and universities it reflected a poor show. More over some of the first established colleges exploited the opportunity and the students in different ways. But during last two years lot of grinding through court and government the process has improved a lot, and I have no doubt that some of these entrepreneurs have provided excellent infrastructure and academic atmosphere in their colleges.Let there be no doubt that Kashmiri teachers, are among the best in the country when provided the desired faculties.
In Kashmir valley only these colleges are providing employment to about eight hundred lecturers (working in UGC grade) and about five hundred non academic staff, in addition to a large number of educated entrepreneurs, (investors) and mineral workers maintaining hostel and mess etc and even a much larger number of employees are employed in Jammu province colleges. The stay and movement of large number of students from outside during the session also benefits different sections of the society. I stand personally witness to many of these colleges, who have invested heavily in raising the best infrastructure unparallel in government sector, and deserve appreciation.In order to attract students from other parts of India in other different courses, the state in general and valley in particular has abundant opportunities.
If we do not want to loose this opportunity the “handicraft way” we will have to co-ordinate different concerned agencies and persons, to plan well , prepare an ideal environment, open up opportunities, provide all facilities and set up a proper accountable regulatory system for marketing education . Karnataka and Maharshtra states have already set examples for us and are attracting large flocks of students from other states and countries. Australia’s 2nd main business and largest foreign exchange earner next to agriculture is education. Large number of students even from under developed countries India included travel to Australia every year for different courses.If the private school system is properly regulated and streamlined, we can even attract students for seeking basic education from neighbourering states.
The valley can provide best campuses for boarding schools. Technical and professional courses in specialized fields with maximum job opportunities can be started in some of the well established private colleges of the valley. Even some institutes of higher learning and research, to study different areas of current human and global interest such as Environment studies, peace Education, global warming, different religions and philosophies, human and international studies and other studies can be established to attract national and international students. But for opening education as an industry, we will have to provide best infrastructure, comfortable and hospitable stay and excellent academic guidance to the visiting students. In order to regulate the system properly, an apex body involving the representatives of government university experts and the private entrepreneurs should be established.
The private entrepreneurs who are well qualified and experienced should be provided financial assistance for establishing institutes of high quality, well equipped with modern electronic gadgets and other teaching aids. The state government and universities will have to minimize and cut short un-necessary documentation and procedures for granting permission for establishing such institutes. By Encouraging and supporting genuine entrepreneurs in education, it can be developed into a large industry providing employment to a large number of educated youth as Academic/non academic staff and at the same time save huge government finances needed for opening and running educational institutes.
Even some existing colleges, senior secondary institutes can be privatized to provide better facilities, and introducing job oriented vocational courses in these Institutes.We need to ponder, plan and put ideas to practice before it is too late.
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