(Image source from: Twitter.com/dpradhanbjp)
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned that the government put out rules about overseeing coaching centers in January this year while he stayed away from addressing a query concerning the demise of three IAS hopefuls in Delhi due to flooding. Congress MP KC Venugopal highlighted that the institution where the students died had an unapproved premise, and called it a shady operation. He wondered whether any steps would be taken. Mr. Venugopal also raised concerns over student suicides, noting that ministry data showed around 80 students had committed suicide between 2018 and 2022 in top academic institutions like IITs and IIMs, attributing it to caste bias. In reply, Mr. Pradhan stated that the question was unrelated but reassured the House that the government remains devoted to safeguarding students' socio-psychological well-being, irrespective of whether they study at coaching centers, schools, or higher education institutions.
In January of 2024, comprehensive and thorough instructions regarding coaching centers were distributed to every state. Mentioning various states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Goa have their own respective guidelines to manage the situation. "Protecting mental wellbeing is essential," he emphasized. "We must all be vigilant. This isn't a matter to be resolved solely by accusations and answers," he added. Tragically, three civil service hopefuls lost their lives due to flooding in a basement of a coaching center after heavy rains in Delhi. Addressing concerns about Indian students studying abroad, Mr. Pradhan denied any brain-drain scenario, stating those students abroad have brought pride to our nation. Responding to a question about the increase in students pursuing education overseas, concerns about a lack of quality higher education in India were raised as a potential cause for students seeking academic opportunities outside the country. The Minister insisted that the students' intellect should not be undermined for political purposes and highlighted the presence of high-quality educational institutions within India.
Pichai, Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Systems, and Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, are products of the Indian education system, bringing pride to India. “Wherever we go in the economic center, Indians are thriving... We are growing because of these relationships. The world is shrinking into a village. It is wrong to deprive our next generation of the good quality of the world,” he said. However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the flagship institutions mentioned by the minister are "few islands of excellence in a vast ocean" and need further development. In his reply, Mr. Pradhan said he was open to suggestions and the government emphasized that quality education and ranking systems were in place for assessment.
