This refers to the report, “Govt nod for Bill allowing foreign varsities to set up campuses” (March 16) and the letter, “Raising the bar” by Mr Manoj Parashar (March 18). It is undeniable that in a competitive, global environment, the Indian education system needs a serious makeover to match international standards. But the Foreign University Bill, as pointed out by former Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, will commercialize higher education in the country, making it accessible only to those who can pay, while marginalizing those who cannot.

Besides, foreign institutes could poach faculty members from premier Indian institutes with handsome salaries and other perks and, thereby, downgrade the teaching standards of our collages. This will be disastrous, especially when our institutions are already facing a shortage of teachers.

Therefore, the Foreign University Bill represents nothing but Corporatisation of education in India.

This is with regard to your news report, 'Foreign University Bill is bad news for India'. It is important for India to up its standards of higher education and now with the passage of the Foreign University Bill, we should have foreign institutes setting shop here. But this has many drawbacks, as it could commercialize higher education in our country. Considering these foreign institutes will dole out higher salaries they could poach top-class teaching faculty from iiMs and IITs.

Moreover, these institutes unlike our own will have no social responsibility. Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal now has a huge responsibility to ensure that, only reputed institutes with an unblemished track-record are given permission to offer education here.

Sir, This refers to UPA govt okays foreign varsities' (DH, March 16). It is essential that higher education is at par with international standards in India for progress. But this step has a lot of drawbacks as it would commercialize higher education.

The government should not grant permission to all foreign universities randomly but for only those internationally reputed institutes that have a solid unblemished track record of at least 30 years and offer mainstream courses also.

Sir — With due respect to the Supreme Court, I must say that its judgment striking down the common entrance test for admission to the undergraduate MBBS and dental courses and the postgraduate courses leading to MD, MS or MDS degrees comes as a big blow for those who cannot afford to pay hefty sums as donation (“Court scraps national medical entrance”, July 19). The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, conducted by the Medical Council of India, was welcomed by many as it promised a more transparent system of admission. Lakhs of students took the test every year. The Neet demanded certain desirable standards among medical students, right from the undergraduate level. And this was a good thing.

With the abolition of the Neet, students will be left at the mercy of private medical colleges, which have turned the admission process into a money-making racket. Now students opting for medical courses will have to sit for separate examinations conducted by private universities and colleges across the country. They will have to run from one state to another in the admission season since the entrance tests are mostly held around the same time. Besides, they will have to shell out exorbitant capitation fees to get admission.

The long-term result will be substandard doctors treating us after, say, 10 years.

The apex court could at least have retained the Need for MD or DM courses. Undergraduate examinations can still be managed by state boards. But the state boards across the country must be brought under a central board before medical students go for higher degrees. In the interest of students, the government must immediately file a petition in the apex court seeking a review of the judgment on the Neet.

Sir, The Suppreme court rulingallowing autonomous colleges and deemed univercities to conduct their own entrance examnations/tests to medical courses in the country, Instead of centralised NEET ,will leave the students at the mercy of priavate medical colleges ,who have turned the medical admission process into money making process/machine.

Given the possibility that enterance exams will be held simultaniously ,students options will be limited.

Sir, Landmark judgement of Hon Suprmeme court upholding the constitution validity of right to education act 2009 (RTE) is appaulded by one and all in country.This act mandates even private schools to provide 25% free seats to poor children between 6 and upto age of 14 from socially & economically backward families.

Schools across country rather taking this as prestige issue rather by filing the rewiew petition in Supreme court ; should gracefully accept the Apex Courts Judgement ; this will help in nation building by providing quality education to all those who can’t afford such education in good schools due to financial constraint and who belong to economically disadvantaged section of society.

RTE act has potential to create generations of Indians across spectrum of society who will study and get quality education in good schools and will be equipped participate in nation building. This act is also a step forward establishing a “composte classroom with children from diverse background rather from exclusive elite members from particular class of society, Even government has said it is ready to reimburse private schools for expensese born on providing education to poor students .Also this act will surge the demand of qualified teachers and government and other schools will get improved infrastructure .

Every state should appoint a hardworking and honest officer probably IAS to carry forward this mission for successfully implementing RTE act for welfare of our better future generation.