No to Capitation Fees

Mr Kapil Sibal is in news these days. He is busy changing a system which ideally should have nurtured many more. Whole system was based on archaic rules and needed many changes. Problems have plagued our education system. Profiteering has generated more wealth for the promoters and added less value to our society. Commercialisation has hurt more than any other problem.

Commercialisation, one of the many problems, forced many deserving candidates out of the system. Institutions usually charge unjustified amount for the facilities they provide to the students. Almost everybody in this country has come across such students who have been denied education in good institution. One has to pay capitation fee to get admission irrespective of his capacity to pay monthly fees. There is no clear answer as to what these capitation fees is used for. There is no potent argument neither in favour of the culture of capitation fees nor for the exorbitantly high monthly fees. It is widely believed that the capitation fees goes into the pocket of the promoters of the institution. The profile of the promoters of many institutions substantiates the belief. Education might be their business but for the state it is their duty. With education becoming fundamental right it is duty of the present day government to ensure that it is implemented. While fee is a private matter of the unaided institution and is necessary for providing quality education capitation fee, its business should come under scanner. Being a subject of intense public debate it should be scrutinized.

The Government in its effort to make education available to everybody has banned capitation fees and has made it a punishable offence. If implemented properly this could become a milestone in Indian education history. This step should lead to almost all the deserving students getting quality education at no extra cost. It's time to add value to our society. Money should come later.