“We Are Reproducing Elitism In Higher Education”: Kamal Mitra Chenoy

At the 2017 edition of BW Education’s ‘Top Education Brands Of India 2017’, where top industry veterans and experts came together to analyze, discuss and recognize these establishments, a panel discussion on ethics vs. business and how do we need to perceive education in the country was carried out by moderator, Brij Pahwa.

Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra, Chancellor, Shobhit University said, “Education is not a profession, it is a passion.” He further elaborated by saying that it is believed that business in education is not carried out for profit but that dilemma needs to be removed.

Dr. S.S. Mantha, Former Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) firstly clarified that the “constitutional position holds that education is not for profit, it is seen as imparting knowledge.” The former chairman further elaborated on this by saying that it is usually believed that “knowledge and making money do not go hand in hand, thus people need to come together to self- regulate.”

To which Brij Pahwa, BW Businessworld said, “It is not about ethics vs. business in the field of education, it should rather be about ethics and business in equilibrium in education.”

Mahender Reddy, Group Director, Saint Mary’s Educational Society added, “The biggest cost involved in tackling this issue is not money, but the time that the students spend which can never back.”

Another issue that was critically discussed during this session was about elitism in higher education in our country, “Professor Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU said, “In India, we are reproducing elitism in the sphere of higher education specifically, which is clearly leading in creating a greater gap between the levels of universities like IITs, JNU and other state universities which is much lower.”

“We must have a more adequate and an egalitarian educational system so that each individual has a better chance at a decent education which is currently not the state”, emphasized the professor.