V. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN THE FOURTH PLAN
Introduction The contribution of institutions of higher education to the socioeconomic development of the country can be hardly over- emphasised. In the developing countries, like India, this role assumes an added significance because the pace and quantum of economic and industrial advancement is determined primarily by the quality of the professional and technical manpower trained in universities and collegiate institutions. It is, therefore, necessary that adequate priority should be given to the quantitative expansion and qualitative improvement of higher education.
2. During the Fourth Plan the emphasis needs to be laid on consolidation and improvement of quality of higher education e.g., strengthening of staff, library and laboratory facilities, etc. Specific attention would also be paid to some of the important newly emerging inter-disciplinary fields and special efforts would be directed towards improving substantially the conditions of work and service of teachers as the quality of education depends essentially on the quality of teachers. Nothing is more important than to attract and retain in the academic profession men of outstanding ability, competence and dedication. Further, in the context of the recent unrest among students, priority has to be given to welfare programmes for students like hostels, day-centres as also to `reading seats' in libraries. This would be an essential step for raising the academic standards as living conditions of a majority of the students are such that they do not provide congenial atmosphere for serious academic work. It would also be desirable that a substantial portion of the staff resides on or near the campus. That would help to promote a corporate intellectual life and closer contact between the academic staff and students. It will also be necessary to start evening colleges and correspondence courses to cater to the needs of those who cannot take advantage of full-time day institutions.
3. Consistant with the needs of our developing economy, high priority needs to be given to raising the level of education in science and technology (agricultural education and research should receive special attention particularly in the context of the present agriculture based economy of India).
4. An important task in the entire programme of university education is to promote first-rate centres of post-graduate studies and research in the universities. No university, not even in the most advanced countries can afford to go in for advanced specialisation in all fields. If fact, one of the most important things for a university is to select carefully subjects/fields for high-level specialisation constituting areas of special concentration of efforts and resources of the university. Such a selection must take into account existing facilities and potentialities for further growth and it should contain an element of flexibility and adjustment to take account of future developments. In addition to special efforts of this kind, it is necessary to take several steps to strengthen the system of higher education by having and expanding programme of seminar's and summer institutes to be followed up by a programme of improvement of curricula, reform of examinations and provision of increased facilities for research work by teachers and talented students. It is also essential to make university education more library centred and introduce measures to provide adequate library services in universities and colleges.
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Priorities 5. In the light of the foregoing, the Fourth Plan programmes of higher education would provide for the following :
1. Expansion and improvement of postgraduate education and research including establishment of university centres of postgraduate study, including special assistance for selected university departments of postgraduate study and research and development of inter-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary subjects.
2. Expansion and improvement of science education.
3. Development of centres of advanced study.
4. Expansion and improvement of college education- postgraduate and undergraduate courses.
5. Special assistance for selected colleges.
6. Improving the professional and academic competence of teachers through the Organisation of seminars, summer institutes and refresher courses.
7. Library development.
8. Award of scholarships and fellowships.
9. Students and teachers amenities and services.
Additional enrolment 6. The additional enrolment in institutions of higher education in the courses of arts, science and commerce has been calculated by computing the 'transfer ratios' of the number of students at the school stage and the college stage after the lapse of specified period. The detailed estimates of additional enrolment are given in Appendix I. It has been reckoned that the total enrolment in arts, science and commerce courses including P. U. C. and intermediate classes of Bombay University (excluding U. P., Intermediate) will increase from 16.93 lakh in 1968-69 to 26.28 lakh indicating an additional enrolment of 9.35 lakh. The distribution of the additional enrolment stage-wise has been indicated in Table 1 below.
TABLE I.- Enrolment in Arts, Science and Commerce (Higher Education)
(000'5)
1968- 1969- 1970- 1971- 1972- 1973- Addl.
1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 Enrol-
ment
IV Plan
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Pre-University 512 558 608 663 723 788 276
Intermediate (Other
than U.P. Board) 50 55 60 65 71 77 27
Under graduate 1,007 1,118 1,247 1,312 1,409 1,540 533
Post graduate and
Research 124 138 157 176 198 223 99
TOTAL 1,693 1,869 2,072 2,216 2,401 2,628 935*
*It is assumed that 35,000 students will be educated through
correspondence courses.
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7. It is estimated that the additional enrolment in Law during the Fourth Plan would be 30,000. This has been estimated on the basis of a growth rate of 9% per annum. So far as teacher education is concerned, calculations have been indicated in a separate paper on the subject.
Cost of Expansion and Improvement 8. In view of the substantial cost-differentials in university departments and affiliated colleges consequent upon the varying scales of pay of academic staff, teacher-pupil ratio and other amenities, an attempt has been made to work out separate cost estimates per student in university departments and affiliated colleges. Assuming that the present proportion of 12 : 88 between university departments and affiliated colleges would continue, the additional enrolment in university departments and affiliated colleges in the Fourth Plan would be distributed as under :
University departments 1.08 lakh
Affiliated colleges 7.92 lakh
Total 9.00 lakh
9. The average annual cost per student has been calculated separately for university departments and affiliated colleges on the basis of teacher costs worked out on the assumption that all new teachers will be given the revised scales recommended by the University Grants Commission plus D.A. at Central Government rates. To this has been added non-teacher costs at the rate of 45% of total costs in the university teaching departments and 35% in colleges. The details of these calculations have been explained in the note at Appendix H.
10. The average annual recurring cost per student, which has formed the basis of projections of expenditure on higher education during the Fourth Plan is indicated below
University departments Rs. 1219
Affiliated colleges Rs. 510
11. The non-recurring cost was calculated on the basis of norms of costs adopted by the All-India Council for Technical Education for the engineering colleges minus costs of items like workshops, tool rooms etc. The non-recurring cost per student is as under
Rs.
Arts courses 760
Science courses 1,570@
12. The detailed calculations of cost both recurring and non- recurring for the expansion and improvement of facilities for higher education are given below
1. RECURRING
(a) University Departments
Enrolment 1.08 lakh (vide
Appendix I)
Cost per student Rs. 1,219
Total cost 1,219 x 3 x 1.08=
Rs. 3,950 lakh*
*Including expendi-
ture on post
graduate education
Cost to Government* 80% Rs. 3160 lakh ... I
@ including laboratory, buildings, equipment and library.
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(b) Affiliated Colleges
Enrolment 7.92 lakh
Cost per student Rs. 510
Total cost 7.92 x 510 x 3=
Rs. 12,118 lakh*
*Including expen-
diture on post-
graduate.
Cost to Government @ 50% Rs. 6,059 lakh... II
(c) Correspondence Course
Enrolment 0.50 lakh*
Cost per student Rs. 200
Total Cost. 0.50 x 200 x 3=
Rs. 300 lakh.
Cost to Government @ 50% Rs. 150 lakh III
(d) Cost of improvement of present facilities
@ Rs. 50,000 for arts colleges and Rs.
1,00,000 for science and arts colleges
at an average rate of Rs. 75,000 per
college for 2000 colleges Rs. 1,500 lakh . IV
Total cost to the Government
(I+II+III+IV) Rs. 10,869 lakh (A)
II. NON-RECURRING
Out of 9 lakh additional enrolment, about one lakh enrolment will
be in the evening colleges. It is estimated that about 3 lakh students
including 1 lakh in science courses would be accommodated in the
existing institutions. Facilities will have to be provided for about 5
lakh students @ Rs. 760 per student.
Enrolment 5 lakh
Cost per student Rs. 760
Total cost Rs. 3,800 lakh
Cost to Government at the rate of 50% Rs. 1,900 lakh (B)
III. ADDITIONAL C0ST ON ACCOUNT OF SCIENCE
Enrolment 3 lakh
Cost per student Rs. 810
Total cost . Rs. 2,430 lakh
Cost to Government @ 75% Rs. 1,823 lakh (C)
Total cost of Expansion and Improvement
(A) + (B) + (C) Rs. 14,592 lakh
13. The other important programmes of higher education along with
their cost estimates are indicated below
*Reference Appendix I.
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Expansion of Post-graduate Education and Research 14. The Education Commission has recommended that the bulk of postgraduate and research work should be organised in the universities or in university centres where good programmes can be developed by co- operation of 3 or 4 colleges under the-guidance of the university. The universities and the university centres will have to shoulder the responsibility for about 80 per cent of the postgraduate and research work as against 55 to 57 per cent at present. Only some good affiliated colleges of long standing which have done creditable work at the undergraduate and or postgraduate level should be allowed to carry on postgraduate and research work. The universities thus have a tremendous additional responsibility to undertake. This would mean providing for at least a 2-fold increase in the postgraduate enrolment in the universities in the next five years and creation of facilities for catering to this additional number as well as improvment of the facilities for the existing numbers. The postgraduate courses occupy a key position in the university system and also represent a sector of manageable dimensions. Improvement of postgraduate education will have an immediate impact on the quality of teachers and good teachers have a multiplying effect on the quality and standard of the entire educational system.
Science Education 15. There has been a rapid expansion of science education at the university stage during the past two decades. The enrolment in science subjects in 1965-66 was 5,65,244 out of a total enrolment of 14,37,178 in arts, science and commerce courses, which worked out to about 40% of the total against about 30% in 1950-51. There has been a considerable expansion in the postgraduate and research enrolment in science and science-based courses.
16. In the Fourth Plan, it is proposed to further expand and diversify science education so as to meet the growing demand for scientists in various disciplines. The main emphasis will, however, be on the qualitative improvement of science education so as -to raise it to the level and content of education in scientifically advanced countries. In view of the large outlays involved in the process, it would be necessary to work on the basis of selectivity and to draw up a phased programme so that, in course of time, all institutions will be developed.
17. It is proposed to lay particular emphasis on the improvment of facilities at the postgraudate and research level. For this purpose, the centres of advanced study set up in various universities will be strengthened. It is also proposed to encourage interdisciplinary and intra-disciplinary research through the setting up of clusters of advanced centres in related subjects. Research in science subjects is to be integrally- related to the needs of the industry-present as well as future-as far as they could be comprehended. Special emphasis is proposed to be laid on the development of mathematics in universities and colleges.-
18. In accordance with the recommendations of the Education Commission, suitable short-term training courses will be organised for science graduates who are not gainfully employed in vocations requiring the knowledge of science courses possessed by them.
19. It is also proposed to lay emphasis on the setting up of instrumentation workshops and computor facilities etc. at the universities. This will promote research in universities.
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20. A paper giving details of the various programmes for the development of science education in physical and financial terms at the university stage is enclosed. Most of the programmes contemplated in the paper have been incorporated under relevant schemes indicated in the Summary Statement. Necessary provision has however, been made for the programmes which are in addition to those indicated therein.
Centres of Advanced Study and Research in Universities 21. The scheme is a continuing programme and is intended to encourage, the pursuit of `excellence' and team work in studies and research and to accelerate the attainment of higher standards in specific fields of study. So far 30 centres (17 in science subjects and 13 in humanities) have been recognised for advanced research in various fields of science, humanities and social sciences. It is proposed to further develop the existing centres and to develop some other promising departments as advanced centres. Emphasis will be laid on the development of inter-disciplinary and intra-disciplinary research by the setting up of `clusters' of advanced centres in allied subjects. A sum of Rs.17 crore has been provided for the purpose in the Fourth PIan. This also includes provision for encouraging research work in sciences as well as humanities in universities and colleges.
New Universities/University Centres 22. The Planning Commission in its paper, `Approach to the Fourth Plan' has suggested that preference should be given to the full utilisation of facilities in existing institutions than creating new ones. The Conference of Education Secretaries convened by the Ministry of Education in March, 1968, also strongly pleaded for self- restraint in the establishment of new universities.
For the Fourth Plan, it is envisaged that no new university would be established unless the need for it is clearly established and adequate resources can be found for the purpose. Provision has, however, to be made for the universities, the establishment of which has already been agreed to like the second university at New Delhi as also the establishment of another university in Kerala. In the case of other states, proposing to establish new universities, it has been suggested that in the first instance university centres may be set up which will provide facilities of a university standard and which may later on be developed into full-fledged universities. An amount of Rs. 15 Crore has been. proposed.