With governments overwhelmed by debt, climate change, and conflict, a new model is needed, the one where regulated private institutions are essential to advancing knowledge and lightening the state’s burden
By Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Knowledge is the most fundamental element in the progress of nations. Along with self-accountability, knowledge plays a significant role in understanding the entire universe. The existence of private institutions alongside government institutions for acquiring knowledge has now become a necessity of the time. We are well aware of how far the world has progressed today. Along with development, there is no shortage of problems either. The government is faced with so many problems that it would take centuries to fix them. Poverty and diseases are so prevalent that every member of the government, despite dedicating their efforts, fails to find a solution.
In such a situation, the government’s attention is less focused on other important issues. Be it a conspiracy or not, there is currently a global debt crisis. America is crushed under the burden of debt. Inflation has also created an emergency worldwide. Wars and civil conflicts have completed the destruction. Global boiling has replaced global warming. Annually, developing countries face a loss of 400 billion dollars due to climate change. To eradicate climate change, 6 trillion dollars are needed from 2023 to 2030. These statistics were published in India’s respected newspaper, The Indian Express. In these circumstances, when opportunities for survival are diminishing, it is impossible for the government to focus on the education sector. If we just sit waiting for the government to come to our aid, that would be the height of foolishness. Therefore, in such conditions, the value of private educational institutions increases.
The government runs the entire country. Private educational institutions can be brought into the field of promoting knowledge under comprehensive policies. Regulations can be formulated for them under government supervision, within which they can operate. By considering the poor and underprivileged students, a system can be designed where the primary focus is solely on studies. In private educational institutions, teachers can be kept away from other unnecessary tasks and kept actively engaged in promoting knowledge. This will lighten a significant burden from the government’s shoulders. They can then focus their attention on other important matters. If this is not wrong, the government should seek the assistance of private institutions in every task.
The most important question, which we have pushed aside, is what is the reason that has made it possible for the role of private institutions to increase so much? We have mentioned some reasons above. However, there is something else that remains veiled. The way private players have started dominating the field in the last few years makes it clear that the future belongs to private institutions. The number of billionaires is increasing daily. In contrast, governments are becoming poorer and poorer. But the government has the power to tax their wealth or use their money to support the government. In education, health, infrastructure, etc, private institutions can operate alongside the government. Such thinking can improve the country’s condition to a great extent. Due to the government’s slow working methods, the country falls behind in the global race for development. Private institutions can perfectly fill this void, especially in the field of education.
The government itself is capable of doing a lot at its own level. Instead of spending resources on unnecessary tasks, it is better to spend precious resources on educational institutions. Today, there is a race to buy weapons. Weapons worth crores of rupees are useless. They only benefit a few countries, while more than half the world faces destruction. If this money is spent on educational institutions instead of these unnecessary tasks, the country’s condition can likely improve. The poor and underprivileged can also be enlightened by the light of education. The infrastructure of government educational institutions can be adapted to modern times. Modern education can promote the expansion of minds.
It is a crucial need of the hour to restore knowledge to its rightful status by any means necessary. If the government has to take the help of private institutions for this, there should be no objection. A pleasant educational system is born from foresight. If greed for advancement intrudes from anywhere, then education turns into a business. Private educational institutions should also, keeping their limited benefits in mind, be extremely vigilant in matters concerning the country’s present and future. Wealth comes and goes, but knowledge has its own age and lifespan. Any kind of negligence or deficiency can sink the ship of the nation. Heeding the call of the time, we all must spread the light of knowledge everywhere.
sy***************@***il.com