Educational Brain Drain

Every year a high number of Indian students travel abroad to pursue higher education and it keeps increasing as each year passes by. In the year 2009, 146,000 students chose to study abroad and of them 76,000 chose US as a country of their choice followed by UK, Canada and Australia. What makes Indian students opt abroad for their higher education?

The study abroad decision is a complex thought process involving future job prospects, cost of education, scholarships, availability of local programs etc but that is not the only reason as to why Indian students pursue their higher studies abroad, leaving their families and familiar backgrounds behind, at such an expensive cost.

One of the main reason as to why Indian students decide to leave their country is because of the failed system of education in our nation. India has made progress in terms of primary education attendance rate and expanding literacy to approximately two thirds of the population. India’s improved education system is often cited alone of the main contributors to the economic rise of India. However India still faces stern challenges as the quality of education whether at primary or higher education is significantly poor as compared with major developing nations. According to a survey taken in 2008, India’s post-secondary institutions offer only enough seats for 7% of India’s college-age population, 25% of teaching positions nationwide are vacant, and 57% of college professors lack either a master’s or PhD degree. There are only few schools in the country that actually help students in their skill development and assist students in practical applications of the concepts they have studied. In the post-graduate level, students’ skill development is ignored mostly and they are spoon-fed and are made to follow the conventional methods of school teaching. Students abroad are given the opportunity to choose the subjects they want to enroll in and the flexible timings help them to earn a living through part time jobs. Even people from the working sector can join courses that will help them get promoted in their business hierarchy. Students studying abroad can fund their own education through part time jobs rather than being dependent on their parents.

Another reason is the technological advancement in colleges abroad. Except for a few colleges like IIMs and Symbiosis, most colleges lack technology and the infrastructure to give quality education to students. Students lose out on exposure that is gained while studying abroad. When asked on a survey conducted recently, 70% of the students replied they choose countries like US and UK because of the low standards, low exposure, spoon-feeding and lack of enthusiasm on the professor’s part. It is past time the Government decided to check on the improvement of these institutions and provide the best for the youth of India.

Neethu Elizabeth John

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