IN PRINT
You can go to college, or not. You can choose to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, or not. However, in India, you cannot just “choose” to take any course or sabbatical; divide course work between two institutions; transfer credits; or complete a few courses, to opt for a degree years later.
The community college system, however, allows all that—and more. In the US, these institutions are the bulwark of the higher education system. The list of successful people, who graduated from community colleges, is long—Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Walt Disney, writers Gwendolyn Brooks and Rita Mae Brown, space shuttle commander Eileen Collins and actors Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood. Clearly, none of the above qualify as academically-challenged, thus breaking the notion of a community college catering to only those who “can’t make it”. The list also proves that such schools are not about job shops alone—their often famous graduates go on to succeed in diverse fields.
US community colleges were created as an affordable alternative to regular four-year programme. They allow a student the freedom to explore before deciding on a specialisation. They offer the student the flexibility to start working after a basic grounding, without having to wait four years for a degree. Finally, they grant the choice to enrol into a four-year degree course, anytime, and provide credits for courses completed.
Wouldn’t it be great to have the same system in India? As we struggle to raise the gross enrollment ratio why not offer students freedom, affordability, flexibility, and choice, rather than force them into degree-granting institutions?
IGNOU is taking the first steps, with emphasis upon vocational training. Hopefully, over time, the desi definition of community colleges will merge with the US model to create a better system—one that allows the transfer of credits even.
The rapidly-expanding network of community colleges suggests that there is a demand indeed. And, it seems that the time for community colleges has certainly come.
Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha
pramath@edu-leaders.com
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Mon, 2011-01-10 04:57
I would completely agree with the viewpoint. In a country where often the barrier for education is a compulsion to earn a living, community colleges could provide the best solution. The benefits to the nation are many: 1. Raised levels of education 2. Flexibility to choose subjects and thus more empathy from the student 3. Income generation; and 4. Self-reliance (currently people interested in education, who have had to forego it in order to earn a living, have to be at the mercy of their employers to support their interest) Mr. Sibal probably needs to implement this on priority, more than anything else.
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