IITs, AIIMS, and IIMs are names that everyone in India is familiar with. These government institutions are so prestigious that no private institution comes close to matching them. Even spiritual gurus, already considered enlightened, often proudly mention being alumni of these institutes — and why not? They cracked some of the toughest entrance exams in the world, and who can blame them for milking a little serotonin and dopamine from those hard-earned achievements.
But what troubles me is this: where are the model schools in India? I have never heard anyone brag about attending a particular school. Why has primary and high school education flourished in the hands of private players? And why has no private institution come anywhere close to joining the ranks of public-funded giants like the IITs, AIIMS, or IIMs?
One of the primary reasons behind setting up institutions like IITs was to build the nation after independence. We wanted the best minds, so we made the entrance exams extremely competitive. At that time, this made sense — primary education was largely under government control, meaning everyone had roughly equal access to education and a fair chance to succeed. However, once private players took over primary and secondary education, the landscape changed. Now, getting into IITs and other premier institutes has become far harder for common people, largely because of the high cost of private coaching. In today's India, where over 90% of the population earns less than 25,000 a month, most families cannot afford to send their children to Kota factory-style coaching centers. Wealthier students often start expensive coaching from as early as Class 8, making it nearly impossible for children from poor backgrounds to compete.
Given this, it's not surprising that most graduates from IITs and similar institutions now chase high-paying jobs, preferably abroad. In fact, the breakthrough research contributions from IITs are also low probably because they aren't able to attract or nurture the right talent.
The second-tier higher education colleges (engineering and medical) are mostly filled with children from lower- or upper-middle-class families. It is possible that many students in these colleges are pushed by their parents instead of their genuine interests. These colleges operate more like corporate entities, charging hefty fees in exchange for good customer service and a degree.
If we truly want to return to the original dream, i.e., attracting the best minds into premier institutions, we must invest in public-funded, premier schools that offer world-class education to students from marginalized and poor communities. These schools must have curricula aligned with competitive exams like JEE and NEET. The midday meal scheme was effective in bringing children to school, but it is not enough to prepare them for competitive exams. Right now, it is far more important to open ten premier schools than to inaugurate another IIT.