DISCUSSION on “PRIVATIZATION & COMMERCIALIZATION OF EDUCATION”
Date:
24th March, Time: 5pm
Venue: lawn adjacent to canteen, UIET, PU
WHY IS GOVERNMENT INTRODUCING MORE AND MORE
SELF-FINANCE COURSES? WHY OUR EDUCATION IS BEING PRIVATISED? IS EDUCATION A
COMMODITY?
Friends, as we all know that fees of UIET (72000) is five times
that of the UICET (15000) department. Difference in the fees is because UIET is
partially self-financed. Self-financed courses are those courses which draw all
their financial resources (including cost of infrastructure & salaries of
faculty) from the student’s pocket. Introduction of self-financed courses is one
of the methods of forcing privatization into education. These courses are being
encouraged all over India.
Friends, we have to see this privatization drive in a larger
perspective. If we look at the socio-economic conditions of our country oppressed
sections like dalits, tribals, minorities(religious, cultural & linguistic)
and women etc. which constitute the majority of population are living under
inhuman conditions, 84 crore people are surviving on less than 20 rupees a day
and India has a dropout rate of 88% i.e. only 12% students avail higher
education. In such pathetic conditions,
our government is encouraging self-finance courses and privatizing our
education. So, why is government taking such harsh steps? And for whom?
Each strata of the society including middleclass and financial
oppressed sections give service taxes (indirect tax) to the central government
which make 80% of revenue from taxes. Friends, Most of us will agree that
education is necessary for the liberation of masses, so it’s our basic right
not a commodity. So, why is government reducing expenditure for education
sector? As government recently slashed Rs.12000 crore from education sector.
Which has directly affected us in the form of fee hikes.
On the other hand, the major section of students who are
pursuing their study in UIET have education loans which they have to pay back.
Despite of getting education under huge financial burden, we have no guarantee
of placement in core companies and good salary, our labs lack sufficient
equipment and the equipments which are available are not up to the standard
quality mark.
In spite of such situation, university is
again hiking fees. Last year, university hiked fees by 20% but the hike was
rolled back after students struggled against it, but our shameless authorities
hiked our fees by 5% last year and promised not to hike fees for next 3 years.
Then why authorities again backtracked?
Despite of all this why government is hiking fees and opening
more self-financed courses? Why? For whom? Why is government shutting the
doors for the poor and the oppressed? Is education meant for only a
privileged ones?
Now
question arises is education a commodity or right of every citizen?