Indian Cabinet Approves Foreign Educational Institutional Bill

Indian Cabinet Approves Foreign Educational Institutional Bill

Finally, despite of numerous objections and various discussions the Union Cabinet of Indian Government has cleared the Foreign Educational Institutional Bill (regulation of entry and operation), which allows foreign universities to set up campuses in India.

Many private players in the education sector have already been approached by foreign universities for collaborative programs. All they were waiting for was a government nod.

As per media sources, Human Resource Development Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal, after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh, said, "This is a milestone, which will enhance choices, increase competition, and benchmark quality".

Sources say approval for up to 200 foreign universities, inclusive of Yale, Harvard, Oxford, and Columbia University, is pending. Up to 20 universities are likely to be given clearance in the first round. Entry is supposed to be through tie-ups with premier Indian institutions or with major business organizations.

While some feel that it is a wonderful and very positive step as India is on the path of growth and development, and with the help of international linkages the entire education system will undergo a revolution, majority believes that it is just another source of income for outside educational organizations. According to sources, Mr. Philip G. Altbach, director of the Centre for International Higher Education at Boston College, commented, "With India opens the door to foreign universities, many institutions will rush in, but many, if not most, of them will be of low quality coming with an eye on making easy money," He also finds the Undergraduate Council Of India (UGC) incompetent enough to effectively monitor and control the foreign institutions that come in.

Experts are speculating that top level foreign universities of US are more interested to be engaged with Indian education because they want top-quality Indian graduate students to come to their universities in US. Foreign universities are eyeing on the opportunity as a recruitment device. Mr. S. Parasuraman, director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, said, "If foreign universities come here with the intention of doing business, they will make it tough for our institutions. With government help on the decline, the latter will find it tough to retain good faculty", confirmed media sources.

However, many intellectuals think that the Foreign Educational Providers Bill is partly an attempt to stem brain drain from India. The step might also improve academic staffing, which is in alarming situation. It will also help to provide an array of choices in a country that is reeling under a quality and quantity deficit.

Concluded.

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CoolAvenues News Wire

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