Realistic and Practical Reformations for Quality Improvement in the

Realistic and Practical Reformations for Quality Improvement in the
Education Sphere


Never in the recorded history of Indian civilization, this many number of people from every segment of the society have access to education at every level, be it primary or secondary or tertiary. Some of our institutions are among the best in the world. Many of our teachers and students are truly of world class in terms of knowledge, skill and research capabilities. The extra-ordinary contribution of the products of our education system (Scientists, Doctors, Engineers, Technocrats, etc.) in Humanities, Basic and Applied Sciences, Engineering, esp. IT, Aerospace, Nuclear and other core sectors, not only in India but throughout the world, is a telling testimony for the successful side of our education system. We should not be complacent and rest on our laurels.

We have unarguably a very large mass of educated individuals in terms of absolute numbers and titles. However, as a data factor of human development index, it may not be very impressive compared with many other nations due to the huge population base of our nation (about 110 crores in 2009). Further, we must admit the fact that with enormous quantitative expansion in the education sector, the over all quality is definitely and surely deteriorating. Also the affordability factor of quality education for the vast majority of the society is diminishing day-by-day. Be assured, it is not a new or recent phenomena. Earlier, it was even worse; apart from economic barriers, numerous other barriers were prevailing since time immemorial.


Let us go to the good old days of Mahabharatha. Remember the bright student (Ekalaivan) from the down trodden society was cruelly punished (cutting away of the thumb) for his self acquired skills and knowledge which was equivalent if not superior to the King’s son (Arjun). Considering the historic and unique inequalities (based on gender, caste, colour, creed, religion, region, race, language, etc., etc.) being professed, planned, practiced, permitted, perfected and preached in our Indian Society, the imbalances prevailing in our education systems are not that bad, as some section of media, politicians, bureaucrats and educationists portray.

Having said this, we should not apt for status quo which is very easy or the path of least resistance in this sorry state of affairs.

Improving the quality and productivity needs innovative solutions coupled with lateral and linear thinking, flexibility and active involvement of all stakeholders and last but not the least, an open mind.

How to improve the quality in our education system?

The problems pertaining to Deemed Universities, ill equipped colleges, un-recognised schools etc. etc. are always in the headlines and every one takes their whips for the sake of publicity. Why these doomed (pun intended) universities, colleges and schools are mushrooming? It is a simple fact of life : Supply and Demand. To think practically and philosophically, earnestly and earthily, why people are living in slums, unsafe buildings and unhealthy locations? Why poor people are eating poorly prepared and hygienic foods? Because the alternatives are not available or unaffordable or inaccessible. The same universal logic applies to education sector too.

What we need is a systemic and methodical overhauling of the system both at micro level and macro level too. Criticizing the existing systems without offering alternate practicable solutions will lead us no where, except sensation mongering speeches, alarming newspaper headlines, coupled with lengthy television broadcasts / panel discussions. Don’t throw away the baby with the bath water.



1) Now, we have the vicious cycle of unfair competitions for admissions by concentrating only on examinations and marks (SSLC to HSC to DEGREE to POST GRADUATE DEGREE), It leaves no time for sports, games, arts, hobbies, inculcation of moral values, holistic developments and social values. Ofcourse, parents themselves are to be atleast partly blamed for this rat-race orientation towards marks, more marks and centum marks. But still, educationists should evolve suitable remedy for this swallowing and vomiting of the subjects for the sake of marks and marks only.

The remedy is facilitating the quantum jump increase in the number of seats in the quality education institutions. How can we achieve it? Not by rules and regulations and a plethora of supervising bodies. (More the layers of bureaucracy, less the teaching process; more the inspection by regulatory and certificating bodies more the paper work and less the student-teacher interaction & contact hours) It can be prudently and sensibly done by encouraging the existing quality institutions to go for shift system so that, without additional immediate capital expenditure, they can increase the number of seats in their campuses. Also let us encourage the retired teachers with soft loans from banks and financial institutions to become education entrepreneurs with the support of unemployed and under employed teachers. The evil effects of LICENCE PERMIT RAJ system should be eradicated.

2) Teacher Quality : - Due to the enormous expansion in the education sector, we have many a under qualified and unqualified faculty in our education institutions, despite their nominal suitability by way of their acquired degrees without any corresponding knowledge or skills. It is a sad fact that many a harassed, overloaded, under appreciated teachers (leave alone the helpless students) are even unable to write a simple leave letter without errors. They are just surviving with the help of the junk notes printed by the mushrooming publications in every nook and corner. It happens more as a rule than as an exception. But we should not blame the teachers alone for this sad state of affairs. Because they themselves are the products of this rotten system. What is the remedy? Refresher Courses, Reoriented Programmes and Mentor Integrated Development Programmes of personal nature will help the faculty to improve their performances. The mandatory faculty quality upgradation programmes must be done professionally and regularly.

3) Teaching Process :- It is less said the better; but still we must ponder over it carefully and objectively. We can not overnight improve the teaching process with the unqualified, and under qualified often under paid army of teachers. But, we should make efforts to improve it by evolving guidance and motivation sessions, seminars, experience sharing programmes by Retired Teachers with suitable incentives for quality performers. Good teaching is an art coupled with elements of Science. It needs constant nurturing. Peer evaluation, Alumni evaluation and all the more important self evaluation will help allot.

4) We should involve the neighbourhood community of stake-holders in the functioning of the educational institutions in whatever way possible. The community must be proud of the institution and vice-versa. If we achieve this honourable equilibrium, we can have affordable, meaningful, equitable and quality education for one and all at every level. It can not be a top down movement to be achieved by planning in the head-quarters and capitals alone. It should be a grass root people’s movement with bottom up approach.

A typical list of stake-holders may consist of the following categories:
a. Current Students, Alumni and their Parents / Guardians
b. Serving & Retired Teachers, Supporting staff and
Education department officials
c. Neighbourhood Community of people, NGOs working in this field and elected Representatives

5) Needless to say, School Education in general and primary education in particular is the foundation for Quality of Education at higher levels. We must ensure sufficient investments in terms of money, infrastructure, human resources and above all prestige and honour for the school education system.

To begin with the school students annual progress report should be made mandatory part of the educational documents, just like the SSLC, HSC, College Mark sheets. As of now, only one mark sheet is given for all the ten years of students achievements and accomplishment in the schools. To bring responsibility and accountability, the teachers’ name and signatures should be there in every year’s academic record. It will be a faithful testimony of his / her contribution in the students growth pattern and achievements. It will not increase their workload, because already they are doing it. Every year, students are tested, examined, evaluated and the results& remarks are recorded. Only lacunae is the record is not given official sanction in the higher education system. It should be laminated and issued to the students every year.

The physical environment of the institutions must be made students friendly. Plans for continuous and phased improvements should be evolved realistically in consultation with all stake-holders. ( From safe compound walls, sustainable sanitation facilities, clean and safe drinking water facilities, comfortable class rooms, convenient furniture, relevant education aids to enviable ultra modern campuses and transport facilities). We must tap the local community , parents and the well to do alumni for raising resources. It is not easy to do. But doing nothing will result in catastrophic situation in our education sector.

` With the VI Pay Commission implementation , Govt. & aided institution teachers are paid better now-a-days. But, they are overloaded with every official, semi-official and unofficial work under the sun. (Electoral Voter List Updation, Census Enumeration, Left out children in the neighbourhood, Ration Card Verification, etc.). Often Govt. Schools are the temporary and the habitual shelters for the victims of flood / fire / storm. They are the election booths, ration card distribution centres, polio immunization centres and accommodation for security forces. The list is endless. Why don’t we spare the teachers for the mission for which they are selected, appointed, trained and placed?

6) Presently both the Central & State Governments, NGOs, International Fund Bodies etc. are taking enormous efforts in providing sufficient physical infrastructure and teaching staff also. But, still a lot more should be done, due to the overwhelming back log and the prevailing socio-economic conditions of our masses.

7) To begin with, we must institutionalize the consulting, guiding and supervising mechanisms both in formal and informal methods to ensure accountability at all levels individually and institutionally.

8) The formal mechanism is to be strengthened with periodic checks and quality upgradation opportunities by the relevant authorities. Finding errors / mistakes / blunders should not be the principal objective of these official mechanisms. Organic Home Grown Evolution and Pragmatic Evaluation of road maps for improvement should be the primary objective of this exercise.

9) But more importantly, the informal mechanism will work wonders, if all the stake-holders understand the necessity of their participation (howsoever small) for the development of strong and quality education at the grass root level. An alumnus’s considered well thought out suggestion / opinion / idea will touch the heart of the teacher than the lengthy lecture / letter from the top officials. A parents’ open hearted talk in the PTA Meeting will wake up the entire fraternity of teachers than a lengthy verbose from the top. The retired teachers can offer practical solutions to the serving teachers’ headaches easily due to their experience gained in the same environment. An employing industrialist can tell the teachers what is important in the curriculum, which will be realized by the teachers either through curriculum or out of curriculum.

10) We propose a monthly meeting of current students’ parents and teachers at the school itself. During this meeting, many a trivial and not so trivial items may be discussed and solutions can be evolved. In the beginning itself, we should not expect miracles. In fact, more often than not parents may not turn up even once in a year. Perseverance will only pay with rich dividends in the long run.

11) Further, the retired teachers and officials may meet once in six months (say, January 26th & August 15th) to discuss all the matters under their purview. This opportunities can be used to invite the interested alumni and their parents to contribute in terms of ideas, criticisms, cash & kind.

12) Annual Days, Sport Days, Festival days etc. may be used for the informal meeting of the stake-holders. (Knowledge is dynamic; not stagnant).

13) A hungry stomach is an unforgiving villain in the education process. Free Mid-Day Meals System is one of the best quality assurance tools. It can be strengthened with inputs from local community, parents, alumni, well wishers and philanthropists.
i. An Aided Elementary School at Trichy is providing morning break-fast (in addition to the State Govt. sponsored Mid-Day Meals) for the needy poor children due to the innovative efforts of the Headmistress Mrs.Vishalakshi and the Trichy DIET Faculty Mr.Sivakumar.
ii. Puducherry Administration is providing Break-fast, Midday Meals and evening snacks too for the poor students in the schools.
iii. Noted Educationist, Applied Psychology Practitioner Prof. Periyar Dasan provides Mid-Day Meals to 200 graduate students every day at Pachaiyappa College, Chennai on his own initiative.

I am sure there are many more illustrations like the above mentioned examples in every part of our education sphere.

14) Transport Harassments:
The dangerously maddening (some times fatal, but always stressful one for the girls, who are harassed by words, deeds and vision) crowded buses and other public transports can be eased with change of working hours, suitable to the specific environments of the institutions. There is no point in blaming public transport authorities alone for this crushing crowds and unreliable schedules. Institutions must evolve suitable timings for hassle free timings. By opening one hour earlier, the peak hour traffic jams can be managed in most of the cases. Let us consider the opening hours for the first shift of the education system 07.00 a.m. onwards. They can complete the classes well before the evening peak hours, say by 02.00 p.m. onwards. If second shift is considered, it can commence by 11.30 a.m. onwards. They can conclude the classes by 06.00 p.m. onwards.

15) A good no. of students are partially if not totally supporting themselves by doing part-time jobs / holiday jobs. We must evolve and encourage suitable earn while you learn schemes. (Retailing, Seasonal Catering and festival based service opportunities, Photocopying and similar workshops, etc. are in need of part-time employees).

16) Given the prevailing increasing tendency of vices like uncontrolled, unsupervised alcohol and killer tobacco abuse and obscene visuals in the print and electronic media in the society, we must wean the students away from them by suitable intervention programmes. In this regard, to begin with it is better to ban the video showings / audio blaring in the public transports. These vices are gripping the young minds tyrannically and many a youth are spoiling the future.

What to eat and not to eat? We always preach our students to renounce junk food, carbonated junk soft drinks, narcotics substances, alcohol, tobacco, etc. Are we telling them what are the alternatives? Are we arranging them nutritious food? Why don’t we offer tender coconuts, butter milk, curd, fortified sugarcane juice with lime juice, fresh fruit juices and fruits, vegetable salads, sweetened palm toddy, jaggery blended lime juice, home made food items, snacks, natural mints, ginger and cardamom added mouth fresheners, sweet sombu, etc. in the campus canteens and hostel messes.

What to view and listen? Let us introduce them good movies, socially relevant short films, lively telecasts and broadcasts, worthy websites, etc.
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/rk

Climate Change abatement

"Reconfiguring the urban Infrastructure Investment pattern to improve the quality of life of all stake holders by planned reduction of urban density of population" .
R. Dhanasekar, MIE (M101608)

SSM ITT & Polytechnic College
B. Komarapalayam 638 183, Namakkal District
Tamilnadu State
E - mail id: rdsce@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT

Reduction of urban density of population by planned decentralization, reverse migration, dispersal of economically robust population segments, not the poorest and marginalized, to thinly populated regions should be the starting point of sustainable urban infrastructure development initiative in developing countries.
It is high time to place a strict moratorium on urban new investments on newer capacity additions, with in the congested regions.
Due importance to UNIVERSAL SANITATION (perennial source of bio-fuel, bio-fertilizer, and golden threshold to the dignity of our masses and water borne disease free world), ENCOURAGEMENT OF RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY (human power, animal power included), PENALTY FOR PRIVATE FOSSIL FUEL BASED PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION COUPLED WITH active, all participative and affordable railway and waterway based public transportation will make our investment in our urban infrastructure really productive.
Road sector should complement, not compete with the energy efficient railways and waterways.
The UNEP, UNDP & WHO should spearhead this movement with national authorities.

Lopsided Policies and Public Perceptions

1. Urban Infrastructure and Utilities Investment
(Is the present trend is sustainable?)
Metro railways, six lane and even ten lane express ways, flyovers, elevated tracks and mega mega drinking and sewage water projects are planned and executed for billions of dollars of money, both in foreign exchange and local currency in every metro and non-metro towns.
Further, even the small towns are catching the diseases of urbanization. They too have their own grandiose schemes of over bridges and high rise buildings in the smallest expansion of the towns.


All these investments are benefiting builders, promoters, contractors and middlemen. Instead, construction of bye-pass roads / ring roads and shifting of whole or part of whole sale markets will serve better with minimal investments. In case of railway lines also this philosophy will hold good.
It is high time to place a strict moratorium on urban new investments on newer capacity additions.
Alternatively, let us re-channelise all our energies, efforts and investments towards rural regions.
Planned reduction of present crushing, suffocating, and cantankerous urban density of population will lead to improvement of quality of life for both urban dwellers and the rural folks also, by transfer of jobs from (expensive, in every sense of this word) urban locations to rural regions.
Of late, for example, we are very often hearing about maddening crowds of people and serpentine lengths of cars and other vehicles on
Bangalore - Hosur highway. The influential IT industry captains are demanding multilane elevated express ways under the guise of development of city. For to be sustainable, the IT industry should relocate at least a part of their work force to tier II and tier III cities which will reduce the crowds in Bangalore and improve the viability and vibrancy of hither to neglected smaller towns.
Last but not the least, the spreading out of resources from congested urban locations to far flung rural regions will reduce, God forbid, the impact of terrorist attacks and unpredictable natural disasters. As an added bonus relief, rescue and rehabilitation missions, if warranted, can be mounted and sustained in a far more efficient, effective and economic manner.

2. Decentralization

To achieve the planned diversion of urban investments and economic activities to less populated rural regions, we should actively shift the jobs (well paying, powerful jobs, not the run-off the mill routine low paying jobs) from congested urban locations to thinly populated rural locations. For example, presently the High Court at Chennai has 42 judges with a circuit bench at Madurai with 7 judges. Why should not we have two more benches, one near PUDUCHERRY and the other near SALEM, so that the litigating public and their lawyers & the supporting staff need not visit Chennai. Likewise, every Government / Private / Non Government / MNC / Business / Education / Charity Organization should reduce the visitor/user population from far flung areas by decentralization / delegation / bifurcation / trifurcation etc..

3. Habitations


Every built area should have ample open space. If it is to be achieved, the tax incentives must be sufficiently high. Here, we must use the proverbial a carrot and stick approach. This open space will make recycling and re-using of the natural resources a cost effective option.
It may look crazy but still it will make better economic and ecological sense, if we promote urban animal husbandry and agriculture / horticulture, using the urban organic waste as fertilizer and irrigation water source. Sustainable architecture of buildings (maximum use of sunlight, domestic waster water utilization, kitchen gardens and natural ventilation) should be mandatory for all buildings worth more than say, Rupees one crore or 35 feet high or 10,000 sq.feet area.
Clear-cut, specified, targeted and unambiguous policy support will promote sustainable development initiatives. Suitable disincentives for urban congestive concentrations and enough incentives for reverse migration (urban to rural) will ensure sustainable development with minimum cost and maximum benefit to all the stake holders. Also it will reduce the narrow strangling of otherwise our civilized rural folks by the cruel chains of caste, creed, race, religion and sometimes language too. The present policy of relocating the urban slums in the extreme periphery of urban conglomerations will not succeed because, the marginalized slum people can never commute from the far off distances to their life sustaining jobs.


4. Move away from city centers


Big cities have at their centers training establishments, higher education institutions, research and development organizations, prisons and administrative offices for the entire district / state / country. They are all hard pressed for space for expansion. They are strangling themselves for want of space and straining the neighbourhood also. In most of the cases, they can be conveniently relocated away from the city without any government budget support by selling their pricey real estate.

5. Transportation

Waterways & railways are the least per capita energy consuming networks for transport; cars & two wheelers are the least efficient and the most polluting. Sadly we discourage the efficient and encourage the inefficient. 7000 kilometers of shore lines are blessed to us by nature. Are we using it efficiently? We should have at least 30 major harbours, 150 medium harbours and 500 mini harbours. For example, a new green field deep water mega harbour at Kolachel in Kanyakumari District will generate employment, in that employment starved region and at the same time will reduce the pressure on Chennai, Kochi and Tuticorin harbours.

Likewise, medium size harbours at Pondicherry, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Mandapam, etc. will make sea-shore based goods and human transportation practical one.
All the pending and proposed railway lines, if completed, will enormously help us in reducing energy consumption and accidents too. Railway development can happen only, if only if we permit and encourage investments and initiatives of every nature (Private, Public, Co-Operatives, Joint ventures - Local and foreign). Please look at the rapid and enormous developments happened in the telecom and road sector.
Supremacy of the railway transportation should be a national objective and obsession instead of the present road based initiatives. In fact, the road transportation should supplement and complement, not substitute, compete or dominate the railways and waterways systems. A minimum required number of passenger / goods-trains and ships / boats should have roll-on, roll-off facility for Lorries, buses and cars. Even two-wheelers and bi-cycles may be permitted in select passenger trains. This will reduce our total fuel consumption and will make a significant dent in the number of accidents happening in our highways.

6. Sanitation as a Source of Bio-Fuel & Fertilizer:

This country of BILLION plus population has about 2.25 million registered, accounted and organized places of worships from high tech multi crore to penniless rural establishments (according to 2001 census). The unregistered, unrecognized places of worships will be at least four times than that of the stated 2.25 million. All this places of spiritual cleanliness and enlightenment are designed, founded, funded, and maintained by our public participation only, of course with varying degrees of government control, guidance and regulations.
Unfortunately in our vast nation of 5000 years of recorded history of civilization, we do not have sufficient number of sanitation complexes (toilets, bathing houses, urinals and washing rooms). While we stress upon the spiritual cleanliness with our commitment of money and time, we are NOT even committing our attention, leave alone resources towards this daily necessity of sanitation. Right to information, Right to worship, Right to speech, Right to education etc. etc. are all ok. What about Right to sanitation every day for every one, especially women? Instead of attempting for the United Nations Security Council permanent seat position and U.N. Secretary General position, Let us go for UNIVERSAL SANITATION for all of us in an available and affordable format at least by 2020. They are the perennial sources for our Bio gas needs, fertilizer and water borne disease free world of happiness. We may even solicit the support of UNEP, UNDP & WHO FOR THIS STUPENDOUS TASK

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7. Build away from the Beach


Whether we like it or not, climate change is true and it is happening fast. Let us safe guard our assets by building away from the sea shores. Naturally harbours must be located right on the sea shore by virtue of their nature. But airports, railway terminals and other constructions need not be located adjacent to sea.
Let us use the sea shores for what they are most suitable. Seashore based industries, rest and recreation facilities, temporary accommodations and above all green bells with plants on shore and off shore too. It is the only way to protect our assets from the vagaries of sea and save our life and properties.



8. Small is beautiful

It may look moving towards 18th century. But it promises a clean and green future for our children and grand children. Wind Mills, Water Mills, Small Hydro Power stations, Bio Gas Plants, Animal and Human powered transportations (Bicycles, Tricycles, Cycle Rickshaws, Pedi cabs, Bullock/ Buffalo/Donkey/ Camel Carts, Horse / Mule Buggies etc.) will ensure a healthy nation and healthier people. These environment friendly energy sources must be promoted with RESERVED, EXCLUSIVE space, every tax break possible, subsidies and concessions. At the same time, we must tax the fossil fuel consumers appropriately.

To succeed, we need commitment from the top people among the executive, judiciary, legislature and all segments of civil society including media, religious organizations and voluntary movements. Given the notable achievements in health care and environment protection, a co-ordinated mission by the national authorities along with the UNDP, UNEP & WHO will achieve the desired results.

The author acknowledges gratefully the inspiring writings of the following thinkers, doers and achievers.
1. Prof. P.V. Indiresan, Former Director, IIT, Chennai
2. Prof. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, His Excellency the President of India
3. Mrs. Rohini Nilekeni, Chairperson, Arghyam Trust, Bangalore (Wife of
Mr. Nandhan Nilekeni, Infosys, Bangalore)
4. Mrs. Meena Swaminathan, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation,
Chennai