Do we need more IITs

If you go by numbers the answer is defintely a "yes". Unofrtunately, the statistics hide more than what they expose. It is true that with a whooping 0.3 million aspiring youngsters, the pressure on the Government is very high to increase the number of IITs.

A thoughless strategy however is wrong. Six new IITs have been opened this year in 2008. Let's look at the some of the facts.

IITs are established by an act of parliament and therefore do not come under the preview of UGC or any other body such as AICTE. These are ddirectly governed by the council of IITs with MHRD. In order to establish any other IITs, the parliaments approval is necessary. There has been none yet in the case of six new IITs.

The technical insitutes establihsed in the country go thorough a strict scrutiny of facilites such as faculty, space, building, infrastructure, library etc. before they can admit students in thier programs. AICTE has established norms for this purpose. Noen of these have been satisfied in the case fo new IITs. In case of the few IITs, even the city is not known where they shall be established (if at all established).

The next question is whether we really need more IITs in the country. It is widely perceived by the country that IITs provide quality education. The young kids who get admitted into the IITs would like to do the top-notch branches without really worrying about the interests of their own. This is typically due to the parental and peer pressure. A student who would opt for the science program at IIT would be looked down upon by his friends, relatives and others irrespective of the rank of the candidate. Does this mean that we should really be teaching only Computer Science in the IITs and there should be enough space among the IITs to teach 3 lakh or so students only the Computer Science?

The situation is bad after the students finish their studies and look for the jobs. Contrary to popular beliefs, a large fraction of students from the IITs start taking jobs in the financing companies, consultancy jobs and aspire for MBA or some similar kinds of jobs. The reason is simple. They look for the fatter salary packets that they can carry home. The point that I am making is simple. There is hardly a need of the technical education for such students. All they need is a quality education rather than the technical one.

IITs impart quality education compared to many other institutions. That makes it possible for the candidates to pursue their interests of other kinds later.

If the country goes for esblishement of quality educational institutes of the calibre of IITs, such candidates will automatically choose their career in these institutes. The seats vacated at IITs will then be used by those who are really interested in technology rather than the big salary packets.

I would vote for the establishments of institutions such as in fine arts, commerce, humanities etc. with autonomy as given to IITs with a focus to impart quality education rather than establishing more IITs with a clear indication of their loosing sheen of supremacy.