YOUR COVER story ‘North-east India’s academic renaissance’ (EW June) was an eye-opener. For too long, the North-east states have been neglected and deprived of proper public infrastructure, quality schools and higher education institutions. The promotion of several new education institutions by can-do entrepreneurs is indeed a welcome and promising development.
Many more institutions are needed in the North-east and state governments must do all they can to encourage private entrepreneurs to set up quality higher education institutions, particularly professional colleges.
Surendranath Biswas
Delhi
Wrong emphasis
YOU'VE SPENT TOO much ink on blaming the country’s higher education system for the exodus of talented students and professionals to the West in your special report ‘Why India’s brightest and best flee abroad’ (EW June). On the other hand, you’ve paid too little attention to crucial factors such as an over-regulated economy, lack of employment opportunities, red tape, nepotism, corruption, and pathetic public infrastructure.
The role of India’s education system, which has produced many scientists, doctors and engineers who have scripted success stories abroad, is at best marginal.
Sujatha Nambiar
Bangalore
Human development onus
I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING EducationWorld’s campaign to reform Indian education for several years. Regrettably, a new government at the Centre is unlikely to precipitate the changes really needed in education today.
That will happen when educators realise that India’s youth need a different kind of training to prepare them for life and the world of work. A student graduating from a university with a first degree is unlikely to get a job in the international marketplace. Not only has a Masters become the norm, but also strong English language and life skills.
Therefore the onus this places on schools and universities to stimulate ‘human development’ in the broader sense, has never been greater. Schools must nurture the emotional intelligence, problem solving, and communication and leadership skills of students rather than produce mere academic high-achievers.
David Boddy
Principal, Anglo Schools International Services Ltd, London
COEP protest
I WAS SURPRISED BY your cover story (May) which ranked India’s best non-IIT engineering colleges.
I wish to bring to your notice that College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) is one of the oldest engineering colleges in the country with a legacy of 159 years. COEP is routinely ranked among India’s Top 15 engineering colleges and #1 in Maharashtra in surveys conducted by all publications and agencies, and is regarded on a par with IITs and NITs.
Despite its numerous achievements, your magazine has ranked COEP #29, which is a matter of great concern. Most institutes ranked above COEP have been ranked far below us in surveys conducted by India Today, Outlook, etc. We absolutely disagree with the scores and rankings given to the institute and therefore wish to understand the parameters considered by your organisation.
Although the rankings are based on people’s perceptions, we would like you to take note of our many achievements so that this mistake is not repeated and readers are guided by accurate details of all the country’s prestigious engineering institutes, including COEP.
A.D. Sahasrabudhe
Director, COEP, Pune
Excellent feat
MY COMPLIMENTS TO EducationWorld for an excellent, credible and comprehensive ranking of India’s top engineering, medical and law colleges as well as other non-formal institutions (EW May). This is a feat which national bodies such as All India Council for Technical Education, Medical Council of India and Bar Council of India have been unable to accomplish all these years.
A.S. Seetharamu
Bangalore
(Dr. Seetharamu is former professor of education at ISEC, Bangalore —Editor)
Appreciative words
HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS for the new look EducationWorld and for the non-IIT engineering colleges rankings (May). EW has arrived!
Good work!
R. Natarajan
Bangalore
(Dr. R. Natarajan is former director of IIT-Madras and former chairman AICTE, Delhi — Editor)