Quality and depth of Higher Education in Gujarat compare to Nationwide – an analytical

study

Hemendra Shah
Assistant Professor
Sharee Narayana College of Commerce
Ahmedabad
Abstract
Higher education system in this country is a complex process. The Indian government has
initiated various measures while imparting qualitative and quantitative form of Higher Education
to one and all, still we do find disparity in terms of gender, economic criteria and political
support to the state from the centre. This ultimately puts us in the back seat of global relevance
and competitiveness. With a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 16.5, Gujarat is way below the
National GER of 20.8. Despite the fact that Gujarat grew faster than most other states during the
decade of 2001-11, in terms of knowledge direction Gujarat stands at 1.13 which is way behind
Maharashtra (2.88), Tamil Nadu (1.63), Karnataka (1.38), Delhi (1.36), and Andhra Pradesh
(1.24). (ASHE 2014, Annual Status of Higher Education ofStates and UTs in India,, 2014)
Knowledge is characterized as a gateway to the future where the human world family will
come together to create a network of relationships. Knowledge has therefore become
today the dynamic watchword, and major progressive steps of development are being
measured in terms of advancing of knowledge and learning society. Therefore the
Department of Education, Government of Gujarat has manifested eloquently its
commitment to the future by creating the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG).
Introduction
Higher education has been found to be significantly related to the human development index and
greater for the disadvantaged groups (Joshi, 2006). Similarly, the lack of such education causes
the inverse to occur; i.e. the greater the level of higher education in a society, whether in stock or
flow forms, the greater the level of human development can be, through its influence on two
main components of human development index: life expectancy, and GDP per capita (Tilak,
1994).
While the Indian higher education system has made considerable progress in terms of capacity
creation and enrolment in the last decade, it lags significantly in terms of global relevance and
competitiveness, said a study by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FICCI) and EY. According to the report, globally relevant and competitive would mean India
prominently placed on the global higher education map, India as a hub for talent and a culture of
research, innovation and entrepreneurship. (FICCI, 2013).
Gujarat is a well-off State, figuring among the top ten in terms of per capita State Domestic
Product since long. Gujarat though has made tremendous progress in terms of industrial
development and is considered to be one of the fastest developing states, the higher education
system in Gujarat has been unable to deliver graduates fit to be readily employed in the market.
While there has been improvement in the primary and secondary education sector, the higher
education scenario needs further augmentation. However, the state government is taking
aggressive steps by creating forums like Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), to enhance
both the infrastructure and quality of higher and technical education within the state.
Objective of the research paper
To study Gujarat’s higher education scenario viz a viz the national average and to understand the
factors involved in Education Infrastructure
Data collection
The research paper is based on secondary data. Various sources that have been used for the same,
including the reports and documents of Ministry of Human Resource Development; research
bodies like Ernst & Young, Deloitte; Indian business associations like Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
1. Gujarat’s higher education scenario and Educational Infrastructure viz a viz the
national average
Table 1: Key Indicators – India & Gujarat
Indicator National Gujarat
Total Population, Crores1 121.1 6.044
Literacy Rate-1 74% 78%
1
Pop. in 18-23 age group (Crores) 14.03 71.2
Share to total pop. (%)1 11.60% 11.80%
2
Gross Enrollment Ratio 20.8 16.5
India GDP- Rs. (2014)3 10,472,807 Cr 670,016 Cr
1
Sex Ratio (2011) 940 919
HE Expenditure as a % of GSD3 0.53% 0.39%
Source: 1. Census 2011; 2. All India Survey of Higher Education, MHRD 2012-13; 3. RUSA, National Higher
Education Mission, Sept 2013. (ASHE 2014, Annual Status of Higher Education ofStates and UTs in India,, 2014)
Gujarat ranks 7th among major states in terms of Human Development Index (HDI). Gujarat’s
71.2 lakhs youths in the age group of 18-23 represents 5.1% of all India 18-23 population.
Gujarat spends around Rs. 2958 per student in term of Higher Education. Here we find the
Higher education expenditure of Gujarat (0.39%) much below the national level (0.53%).
Table 2 : Education Infrastructure
Indicator National Gujarat
State Public University 286 22
State Private University 105 10
Institution of National Importance 59 2
Government Deemed University 38 1
Private Deemed University 79 1
Central University 42 1
State Open University 13 1
Others 65 0
 Total Universities and Institutions 687 38
Total Colleges-2011-121 34852 1780
Private Unaided Colleges 58.2% 40.5%
Private Aided Colleges 15.1% 24.2%
Government Colleges 26.7% 35.3%
Source:1.ASHE 2011-12 (ASHE 2014, Annual Status of Higher Education ofStates and UTs in India,, 2014)
Gujarat has 5.9% of all universities in the country, which include key institutions like Central
University of Gujarat, IIM-Ahmedabad, IIT – Gandhinagar, Gujarat National Law University,
Gandhinagar and Sardar Vallabhbhai NIT, Surat. Gujarat ranks 7th among all states in India with
38 Universities. These offer specialization in Technical, Agriculture, Science, Sanskrit, Law,
Medical, General and others.
40.5% of the 1780 colleges in Gujarat are private unaided while 24.2% are private aided. Gujarat
ranks 8th in total number of colleges in any state in India. Gujarat has 25 colleges per lakh of
population which is the same as the national average. In terms of students enrolment per college
Gujarat (599) is lesser then all India average (703).
Table 3: Enrolment through Regular Mode at various levels – GUJ
National Gujarat
Education Levels
Total %age Total %age
Ph.D. 81430 0.32 2270 0.20
M.Phil. 34154 0.13 646 0.06
Post Graduate 2351664 9.13 105972 9.27
Under Graduate 21041897 81.69 877054 76.70
PG Diploma 121602 0.47 6569 0.57
Diploma 1956719 7.60 127594 11.16
Certificate 98464 0.38 15874 1.39
Integrated 72164 0.28 7565 0.66
Sources: (ASHE 2014, Annual Status of Higher Education ofStates and UTs in India,, 2014)
Gujarat is behind the average national enrolment at various prominent educational levels like
Graduation, M.Phil. and Ph.D. whereas it is doing far better at diploma level. These shows that
Gujarat is lacking behind from the degree level compared to national level average. In terms of
gender, enrolment is skewed as 58.3% comprises males, while only 41.7% of the enrolment is
females, indicating significant gender disparity. (ASHE 2014, Annual Status of Higher
Education ofStates and UTs in India,, 2014)
Table 4 :Faculty and Staff
Key Faculty & Staff Indicators National Gujarat
Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) 13.1 22.7
Teachers per College 53.8 26.3
Non-teaching staff per College 34.5 16.5
Post-wise share of teaching staff National Gujarat
 Lecturer / Assistant Professor 68% 62%
Reader & Associate Professor 14% 17%
Professor & Equivalent 8% 9%
Temporary Teacher 6% 7%
Demonstrator /Tutor 4% 5%
Source: (ASHE 2014, Annual Status of Higher Education ofStates and UTs in India,, 2014)
Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR)of colleges in Gujarat stands at 22.7 students per teacher which is
worse than the all India average of 13.1.The total number of teaching staff and non-teaching staff
in all colleges in Gujarat is estimated to be 47,000 and 29,000 respectively (extrapolating data
available for 93.5 per cent colleges in state)., given the number of colleges in the state, the
number of teachers per college (26.3) and non-teaching staff per college (16.5) are lesser than the
corresponding all–India levels. In terms of composite education development index, Gujarat is
ranked seventh at 0.63. Preceding Gujarat are states and union territories like Karnataka (0.69),
Tamil Nadu (0.69), Puducherry (0.68), Delhi (0.66), Kerala (0.64), and Maharashtra (0.63).
(ASHE 2014, Annual Status of Higher Education ofStates and UTs in India,, 2014).

Conclusion:
Though Gujarat is a well-off State, having higher per capita State Domestic Product compare to
national average since long, the scenario of Higher Education was worst then the national
average. The Higher Education system in Gujarat has been unable to deliver graduates fit to be
readily employed in the market.
Gujarat is behind the average national enrolment at various prominent educational levels like
Graduation, M.Phil. and Ph.D. whereas it is doing far better at diploma level. These shows that
Gujarat is lacking behind from the degree level compared to national level average.
Gujarat’s spending on higher education compare to nation is very law. It may due to higher PTR
compare to nationwide which near twice the national PTR. The higher PTR may be due to non
filling of vacant position in the Higher Education in Gujarat. Which can be indicated by the
higher percentage of Reader & Associate Professors, professors, Temporary Teachers and
Demonstrator /Tutor in Gujarat compare to national average and lover percentage of Lecturer /
Assistant Professor compare to National average. More over the number of teaching staff
involved per student in term of Higher Education is much higher than the national average. It is
mainly due to non filling of vacant possessions in Higher Education in Gujarat.
Gujarat has very less spending on research and extension work, and the quality of research work
is relatively poor. Gujarat has very less educational and research institutions of national
importance.
To improve qualitative and quantitative scenario, the state government is taking aggressive steps.
The state government has established Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), with an
Objective of KCG to improve quality and depth of higher education scenario in Gujarat by
providing proper platform and environment for the extensive sharing and dissemination of
knowledge across all stakeholders of education in general and higher education in particular.
KCG has introduced many initiatives to fulfill its objectives. However it proves little so has to
compete with nationwide.
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