Commercial aspect of education
The covid-19 pandemic has made us to learn various lessons. It has not only redefined the way we conduct our daily lives but also made us realize to view various businesses and sectors in a totally different perspective.
One such sector that has witnessed a tremendous change is the education sector which in particular has witnessed a paradigm shift. All schools and colleges remained shut for almost 18 months and even after that only higher secondary institutions have opened up.
Given the new conditions that have been adapted to get the education sector back on track we need to focus on improving the quality of education being imparted to students during these covid times.
Besides, the pandemic has also pointed out to the emerging trend that the education facilities need to be made localized so that students can avail the best of facilities and shape their career.
Those associated with education sector also need to plan for the future as every year almost 20K students from Kashmir valley end up joining various professional colleges outside Jammu and Kashmir to seek education in those streams which are not available here.
The movement of such a large number of students every year is also affecting the economy of the region as rough surveys suggest that around Rs 2000 crore of cash moves out of the region because of this phenomenon.
Under these circumstances various questions are raised as to why Jammu and Kashmir is lacking in establishing institutions of higher learning. And secondly, why isn’t the local breed of investors coming out with a solution to this problem.
The question also remains as to why the local entrepreneurs are shying away from investing in education sector so that they could establish colleges and Universities in Kashmir which could boost employment opportunities in the UT and also help in retaining the flight of cash from this region.
The education sector has seen negligence is evident from the fact that very few colleges have come up in the private sector in Jammu and Kashmir. For this the onus lies on the government which needs to incentivize the investment in education sector.
For this a clear cut policy such as a single window clearance system needs to be put in place so that more and more private players could enter the sector.
Under ease of doing business, there has to be a mechanism in the UT that anybody having requisite infrastructure and capital in place should be allowed to establish quality educational institutions which could hold the students back and offer them varied career choices here only.
Though the entrepreneurs and even the academicians have resources to open world-class colleges and universities in Jammu and Kashmir, but it is the government that has to act more liberal and involve players who are willing to invest here and create an enviable infrastructure in the education sector.
KV Network
