Telangana: Why The Crisis In Higher Education Cannot Be Ignored Any More

The sights of students shouting slogans and protesting at Osmania University and Kakatiya University keep flashing in our minds whenever we think of the struggle for Telangana state. For months together, between 2011 and 2013, the student community kept the police on edge with their protests. These students spearheaded the movement with a hope that in the new state there would be an increase in research and job opportunities. All sections of the society, especially the poor and disadvantaged, elected this government believing that they will get good education and employment but they have been disappointed.

When we analyse how we fare in the field of university education three years down the line, we realise that the hopes of people of Telangana went in vain. Out of the total number of posts for professors sanctioned under the direct quota, more than 50 per cent remain vacant. Reduction in the number of admissions in government degree colleges in the current academic year is a fair testimony of how students are afraid of seeking admission in these colleges, which do not have the required number of qualified teaching staff. As the appointments haven’t been made, most universities aren’t able to get the funds and benefits from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Out of the 2,753 posts for professors, assistant professors and associate professors, 1,249 posts are filled and the others remain vacant. Out of the 11 universities, only Telangana University and Open University have recruited for more than 50 per cent posts sanctioned. In case of Osmania University, out of the total 152 posts under direct quota, only two have been filled and in Kakatiya University, it is just one out of 54. The situation is worse in the case of Shatavahana University and Mahatma Gandhi University, where there is only one professor for each of them. All the posts sanctioned for Bhasara IIIT are vacant.

Course structures in most of the disciplines have become obsolete. The state universities hardly try to update their courses with the latest industry developments and requirements. University-industry collaboration, which is a key to enhance education quality, research and job creation, finds no place in government agenda. Unfortunately, this is the case with most government universities in the country except a few here and there. In Telangana state universities, there is very little research activity and we rarely see new research proposals.

The engineering examination system was mishandled so much during the 10 years of Congress rule before the formation of Telangana state, that the students use all-in-one guides to prepare for exams. That speaks volumes of why students are unable to grab the job opportunities available in the market. Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK), an initiative by the department of information technology and communication, government of Telangana, is a great step towards skill development among the students. It enhances their technology, personal and organisational skills. The state government's efforts to contain the sanction of new colleges without proper hard and soft infrastructure, is appreciable. Initiative to terminate the licences of existing colleges that do not comply with quality standards established by the government is also laudable.

A story published recently in a popular Telugu news daily headlined "Ph.Ds for sale", reported how PhDs are awarded for money in our temples of learning. What a shame to our system! Several such incidents were reported before the formation of Telangana and we see no change even in the new state. The state machinery was in such a pathetic state that it could not even organise the Engineering Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test without paper leakage. There have been instances where students of Kakatiya University were awarded 105 marks out of 100 and the university officials have no time to even verify the mark sheets. None of the state universities had a vice chancellor till a year back. Satavahana university got a vice chancellor only recently after three years of formation of the current government. And there is no idea as to what the chairman of the Higher Education Council has done so exemplary that he his term was extended.

The Telangana state government's budget allocations to education indicate that education is not given a right priority. It is important to note that in a study conducted in March 2017 on 17 state budgets of the country by PRS Legislative Research, it has been observed that Telangana earmarked just 8.2 per cent of total expenditure in 2016-17 for education. This is lower than other states such as Andhra Pradesh which spends 15.1 per cent, Bihar (15.8 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (16.6 per cent), Maharashtra (18 per cent), and Chhattisgarh (19.5 per cent).

Considering these unconcealed facts, one can understand how considerate the state government is, with regard to university education. Due to their negligence, each government university on an average is losing up to Rs 50 crore of funds from the UGC. As a result, the state is missing a great opportunity to enhance the standards of university education. Having colleges and universities doesn't mean that we have good education system. The government should provide enough support by recruiting a sufficient number of teaching staff who also have quality, by providing proper infrastructure and by adhering to proper quality standards.

The Telangana state inherited several lapses in university education from the previous governments of undivided Andhra Pradesh. But, there was hope and expectations among the people that things would improve drastically in terms of university education once the new state takes over. Initiatives such as TASK, T-Hub, steps towards compliance with quality standards in engineering colleges were not sufficient to meet the expectations. This resulted in severe dissatisfaction among the university students. Students are trying to raise their concerns on every single occasion possible.

It's important to note that at the recent centenary celebrations of Osmania University, Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao and a notable alumnus of the university weren’t even allowed to speak by the OU students. Realising it is facing severe opposition from the students, the government has imposed an unannounced Act 30 where prior police permission is required for organising any protest or event. The Chief Minister has also planned to expand TRSV, the student wing of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) by enrolling 20 lakh students, so as to distract students from real issues and suppress protests from other students groups such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

There have been number of articles carried by the media on the issue of unemployment and on the way university education system is collapsing but it seems that the government is in no mood to consider them. The government’s attitude and inaction raises a question whether all this is a conspiracy to promote private players in the field of university education.

No one knows better than the Chief Minister how powerful the Telangana student community is. It is they who put him under pressure when he initially withdrew his hunger strike during the Telangana movement. It is they who spearheaded the Telangana movement and nudged the reluctant Congress and the Telugu Desam Party into supporting the cause of separate state. Considering these facts, it’s better for the government to take steps to reconstruct the collapsing university education system before the student movements turn grave and violent.

The government should immediately start the recruitment process on a war footing in all the universities for all the sanctioned posts. Education should be given right priority in budgetary allocations. The government should fund research projects to enhance research opportunities in universities. The education department should work with ministries of IT and other industries to establish industry-university collaborations. Open book examination system should be introduced in university courses so as to augment practical thinking among the students.