Letter to BS: Private education sector must change its profit-making model

If the government is serious about reforming higher education, it should start with restricting the profit oriented approach of private institutes through suitable legislation

This refers to “Reforming higher education” (October 17). Since the initiation of reforms in India, the onus of imparting higher education and bringing necessary changes has largely fallen on the private sector institutes. Unfortunately, many private sector players look at education as a commodity akin to other commodities and aim to maximise profit. Therein lies the flaw of this model. Education is a merit good. Private institutes try to sell a merit good in a marketplace based on the principles of demand and supply applicable to private goods. This leads to gross neglect of social benefits associated with education. Consequently,