What is Polonius Advice?

On the eve of the commencement of yet another academic session, the Union Minister of Human Resource Development has made a fervent appeal to students and parents with his blessings, of course, to keep a 'few precepts in thy memory!'.

While extending his best wishes to all students entering the portals of higher education, Arjun Singh has urged them to satisfy themselves that the institutions that they are seeking admission into, are recognised under relevant laws and that they are of quality and repute.

While one should thank the omnipotent Minister for his timely advice, is it not the duty of the mighty Government to ensure that only recognised institutions are allowed to function in this country? How can you expect the students and parents, especially from a rural background to judge the institutions? Where is the yardstick to assess if an institution is of 'quality and repute'? Is it not for his Ministry to set standards and ensure that they are followed?

The Honourable Minister has gone a step forward and told the prospective students that, 'in particular, you should not merely go by the advertisements issued in the media by higher educational institutions, but satisfy yourselves on all counts in respect of quality and statutory recognition because it is not necessary that all that is projected in advertisements would be based on facts.' He has not stopped with that either. Even in the case of recognised institutions and universities, it would be prudent to satisfy oneself that courses for which admissions are being advertised are also duly recognised and further that the campuses to which admissions are being offered are also recognised campuses of such institutions or universities, he says.

The question that naturally arises is, does the Minister feel that even a recognised institutions would and could run unrecognised courses in unrecognised campuses with impunity and get away with that? If that is indeed the case, there is something basically wrong in the administration of education in our country.