Analysing the Trends in India’s Higher Education and Vocational Courses

Abstract

Education has been a prime area of development in India since the dawn of independence. It is a known fact that we are experiencing a rapid expansion and diversification in India’s Higher education and Vocational training discourse. India is emerging an extensive knowledge hub, with the amalgamation of various Government, Private and International players in the path of providing education as a service to the population in India. However, India’s Higher education is grappled with several Policy failures and skewed Trends reinforcing the transmission of disadvantage from one generation to another and constraining the country’s economic growth and development as the complete potential of India’s human capital is yet to be realised. These trends can be pertaining to educational status, enrolment, expenditure, inclusion, discontinuance, etc. Higher education is not universalised in India, unlike Primary education. The current Gross Enrolment Ratio is 25.2 per cent and to reach the stage of universalisation, which has been achieved by several developed countries, we need a strong management and self-checking mechanism in the educational system. The mechanism needs to be such, where the providers of education and the Administration of the country come at par in the provision of education to maximum population of India. Acquisition of higher education can help anyone to overcome professional and personal disadvantages by facilitating lifelong career opportunities. The need for introspection in terms of what can be done to improve trends, standards and ensuring employability of our graduates come from analysing and rectifying the Policies and Trend behaviour at Higher education and Skill training stage.