Education pact with China under cloud?

Recent diplomatic tussle between India and China seems to be getting better of the proposed educational pact between the two countries. However, it’s still not official and seems more like speculation. The proposal to mutually recognize university degrees of both the countries was to be discussed in September. Actually, Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal is scheduled to visit China from September 10 to 16 and it was thought to be on his must-do list.

Now, in the changed scenario there seems to be an air of skepticism around the proposed pact. However, government sources are tight lipped about any such measure. The officials in the knowledge of the things claim to be sensitive towards the cause of thousands of Indian students studying in China. At the same time they put forward the need to first understand possible implications of recognizing Chinese degrees in India and whether our system is prepared for it or not.

The reason behind India’s newfound uneasiness in going forward with the proposed understanding with China is said to be the sheer size and muscle of Chinese education industry. It is feared that the go ahead will result in considerable loss to the institutions of higher education in India, and that too at a time when the sector is growing at its best ever pace with the newfound energy courtesy Sibal and Co.

Government definitely seems to be aware of the fact that Chinese educational institutes are capable of providing good quality education at highly competitive costs. At the same time apprehensions about diplomatic relations with China too seems to have played some role.