Extravagant Infrastructure for Educational Institute- Is it necessary?

It is observed that private educational institutes in India are spending huge amounts on building spectacular infrastructure with modern facilities comparable to business houses. These include high profile buildings, reception rooms, gardens and landscaping. Such investment is welcome only if primary attention is given to educational resources and employing good, motivated teachers and maintaining high educational standards.

Unfortunately, it is observed that these vital aspects are neglected. For example, if library building is specious, air conditioned and with attractive interior design, it is no value if it lacks books and latest journals and has librarians with no interest or experience. Computer lab with large number of computers but without the necessary software or network support or are not accessible to students. Workshops and laboratories with costly equipment and instruments but without well trained operators and curators. Teachers and faculty recruited only to satisfy the statutory requirements.

Such institutes might be succeeding in creating good impression about the educational standard of the institute in society and getting more students enrolled,but I must warn that this may be disastrous not only for students and their future employers but also may pose a serious threat to the survival of such institutes in the light of global high quality requirements in education.

India has a high tradition of quality education. International community believes high standards of education in India. Shantiniketan has earned reputation as place of true learning, where the classes are conducted under tree shade. Our forefathers believed in trueness of purpose, discipline, hardwork, sacrifice and seclusion of worldly pleasures as essential for learning. Rama, Krishna and all kings of worldly wealth spent considerable time of their life in forest learning from teachers who were constantly in pursuit of knowledge.

Where are we now ? Ironically advanced countries are trying to follow our abandoned traditions to improve their educational systems and we are blindly following their rich, leisure oriented outfits which are unnecessary and increasing the cost of education instead of quality.