PRIVATIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN RAJASTHAN: THE QUESTION OF EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY

In order to achieve a rapidly growing and sustainable economy, a highly qualitative and competitive pool of human resource is indispensable. Human resource is created through education and within education it is higher education sector that enable one individual or a group of individuals with skills and other desired abilities which will support them to enter and actively participate in productive sectors and it will generate more and more economic activities. Thus higher education creates specialization of skills within its beneficiaries which in turn leads to HRD. Importance of human resource development in growth and development of any economy is widely recognized. Human capital contributes to growth in diverse ways particularly through direct absorption to the economy. If higher education is so important in the development and growth of a country through HRD, then the question of its funding comes. There are different arguments on the financing of higher education. According to some scholars the interest of the large sections of the society can be better taken care of when it is provided by the government itself. While other scholars emphasizes on allowing the private education providers in the field of higher education as it is not possible for the governments to spend high amount on higher education. The insufficient government funding to higher education has created excess demand problem in the market of higher education, which can be filled by private providers only. But we can find some empirical evidence from different states where the supply of higher education has been opened for private players. Rajasthan is one of the states in India, which opened its door for privatization of higher education sector very late. Even the late entries of private institutions have brought series of imbalances in the education system of Rajasthan. The growth of private colleges can be imagined by the fact that there was 1238 per cent increase in their number within the period of 2001-07. The increase in the number has come with regional imbalances; compromise with quality assurances and, the equity and opportunity. The paper tries to focus on the effects of privatization of higher education in Rajasthan.