Explain the need for engagement of the

private sector in professional education in

India.
While India was under British rule, in 1882, Hunters commission recommended government’s
withdrawal from the higher education sector and suggested that it should be taken care by private
institutions and government should take care of elementary education. Even now, after many years,
this recommendation is relevant. There is a dire need for the involvement of private sector in
professional education in India for the following reasons.

Budgetary constraints :- As per the constitution of India, it is the responsibility of the government to
provide free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of six to fourteen years. With
this obligation, government is left with very limited resources for higher and professional education.
Hence, with the engagement of private sector, this vacuum can be filled and the government can
completely focus on providing the primary education to all, which will be the basic foundation to the
education system.

Quality education :- Private investments can provide better infrastructure and better quality
education through commercialisation of education. India has a significant section of people, which
can afford the fee of private institutions, especially schools. As there are many financial constraints
to government institutions, private sector can solve the problem of the quality of education.

Cultural dominance :- As per General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS), government
cannot object foreign institutions from providing education in India. As these institutions are mostly
from western developed nations, there is a high probability of cultural hegemony, which will
eventually pave the way to neo-colonialism. The only solution for this is to counter this education
from foreign institutions by affordable and quality education system within the country.

Government of India is encouraging the private institutions in education by giving aid to

recognised private schools and colleges. As per the constitution, government is also providing aid to
the educational institutions run by linguistic and religious minorities. With these initiatives, a lot of
private institutions had come up toprovide professional education in India