Fr. Joe Mariadhas
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he result declared by Nagaland University recently is a mirror and reflection of the growth and development of higher education in Nagaland. The results indicate that many more young people are graduated from the many educational institutions existing in our state in diverse disciplines. Excellence has been achieved when we measure in terms of academic results and we need to be proud. The colleges or educational institutions are affiliated to Nagaland University and some of these are accredited by NAAC and UGC. All these institutes are in pursuit of imparting good, quality and vocational based education to equip the young to address the growing unemployment concerns and to prepare them for life. While this noble venture is being appreciated and acknowledged it is time that we introspect, reflect and think constructively the future of higher education and its contribution to the growing number of educated youth in our state. Do we measure our success only in terms of academic success? A clear, goal oriented concept of quality higher education seems to be the need of the hour as I observe and see the developments taking place here.The world economy is experiencing an unprecedented change today more than any other times in the history and stock markets are unpredictable and the economic meltdown has affected all either consciously or unconsciously. New developments in science and technology, media revaluation and internationalization of education and the ever expanding competitive environment are revolutionizing the education scene. A paradigm shift has been noticed in higher education now a days, from ‘national education‘to ‘global education’, from ‘one time education for a few’ to ‘lifelong education for all’, from ‘teacher- centric education’ to ‘learner centric education’. These changes make new demands and pose fresh challenges to the established education systems and practices in the country. Because of interdependence and integration of world economy in recent years, the Indian higher education system has a new role and a challenge to provide to the nation and the world at large, skilled human power at all levels, having breadth of knowledge and confidence to effectively confront the social and economic realities.
The rapid developments in science and technology and the challenges of globalization are posing additional challenges to the education system in the country. This is also the time when parental care to the children is on the wane. The adverse effects of the media on the mental development and moral values of the younger generation are being felt increasingly in all spheres of life. Gross consumerism has distorted the outlook of persons into one of equating possessions with richness. Exploitation of natural resources is proceeding without reference to sustainability. The hiatus between the rich and the poor is getting wider. While the education system needs to keep pace with the scientific and technological developments in terms of building the skills and knowledge, it also needs to address the more fundamental issues of the social and moral consequences of such unregulated activities.
India, the third largest in the world in harness education will surpass many other countries with the given situation and importance to education sector. Our education system is complex ridden with many contradictions but it has tremendous possibilities too that need to be explored and expanded. According to some findings, in 2030, our country will be amongst the youngest in the world, with nearly 140 million young people will be attending colleges. With more emphasis on quality and private education system in India, there is a shift in the outlook and attitude among the students and the management. It has become one of money making industry at the cost of compromising quality education. The autonomous system and the private universities though offer variety of courses and programmes poses a question whether all these promote quality education at large? Are these programmes helping students to acquire knowledge that will be beneficial for their lifetime? Sometimes I wonder at all that happens in campuses of educational institutions with potential for excellence being shattered with many issues lying buried or covered complacently.
The need of the hour is to inculcate human values in the students, like quest for peace, adherence to truth and right conduct, non-violence, compassion, tolerance, love for all living beings, respect for its culture and traditions, in order to promote societal concern and responsible citizenship; so that such an effort is in the interest of the students, society and the nation. We do emphasize on quality education and promote it in all spears of our activities, there is something that still missing or not found its place in the educational system. It is important to ensure that these educational institutions have adequate facilities, qualified faculties, research facilities, relevant curriculum, infrastructure, and others. There is an immediate need to transform the whole system of higher education in our country.
Recognizing the special role of teachers in this effort, it would be desirable to impart them the necessary skills and insights into value education by devising suitable orientation courses and extending support to institutions for imparting such training. Academic quality is of paramount importance and so every educational institution should be able to follow best practices to promote them. Teaching faculty to be trained and equipped to take up the challenges of imparting quality education to the student community and not to be compromised at any cost. There is also an immediate need for moving from ‘generic model’ of education to a ‘learner centred’ model of education. The students should be mentored to make their carriers in the areas of their strengths and abilities.
In an environment of global competitiveness it is important that students of our educational institutions are as competent as graduates of any other states not only in their scholastic attainments, but also in terms of the value system and richness of their personality. Unless the quality and standard of higher education institutions is enhanced zealously and sustained at a high level through innovation, creativity and regular monitoring, it seems to be difficult for our academics/professionals to compete in the World scene. This calls for suitable assessment and accreditation mechanisms to be available in the country to ensure the quality and standard of the academic/training programmes at higher educational institutions. The concept of quality education provided by the educational institutions and received by the student community has to enable the students to achieve goals that they strive towards. There is a need to study the curriculum design, courses that are offered and the different components associated with learning for life. Higher education has to be qualitative, job oriented and at the same time ethical and promote standards of human life as a whole. It is not mere degrees, diplomas and certificates but it is enabling one to achieve the greatest good in life that can be dreamed and achieved by an individual.
