GD Topic: JNU Fee Hike – Justified or Not?

A topic that may be of much importance to the GD rounds of MBA admission 2020, could be about the reported fee hike at the JNU. Let us take a look at both the pros and the cons of this idea on the JNU fee hike, as proposed by the government. By Aritro Dasgupta

Students often make the mistake of allowing complacency to seep in, once all the MBA entrance exams are over. But students must remember that sitting for these exams, and even doing very well in them is only half the job done. The grind of the personality assessment rounds remains. One of the most popular methods to assess students’ personality, is via Group Discussions (GDs). A GD typically pits in any trending topic of strategic importance for the students to debate on. It could also be an subtract topic, to test the students’ creativity and team work capacity. Among current trending topics, economy, sports, culture, polity and business are the most frequently used up.

One such topic that may be of much importance to the GD rounds of MBA admission 2020, could be about the reported fee hike at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. The answer one gives may have implications for any educational institution of higher learning, including an MBA college. There are several points in support of this initiative, but also some that go against the same. Students are free to use their choice of judgement. One must remember, that a GD is not an MCQ-based test, so multiple answers could be correct. The students though need to logically and factually justify their viewpoints. In fact, they could even remain neutral, by imbibing positives and negatives on both sides of the divide.

Let us take a look at both the pros and the cons of this idea on the JNU fee hike, as proposed by the government.

For the Motion

Following are some points in support of this initiative:

1. While research in Higher Education remains the prerogative of the government, and a top priority at present, one also needs to balance the budget. There is a growing global economic slowdown, affecting the Indian economy as well. So, this is a time to balance the government budget.
2. The present fee in JNU and several other educational institutions has not kept pace with inflation. A lot of the freebies or subsidies were planned decades back, at a time when India’s was a primarily socialist economy. That has changed now, so these institutions too need to keep pace with the present inflationary trends.
3. Educational institutions on the one hand are demanding greater independence, when it comes to curriculum design and faculty recruitments. On the other hand, there is also a need to take care of the finances. The IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) are a case in point. As now they are recognized as Institutes of National Importance (INI), they can set their own curriculum, award degrees, but also need to manage funds to quite an extent by themselves.
4. While originally intended to foster a better research environment, the culture of subsidies and freebies, has given way, to many students using the facilities to have a better life, while not really producing much material of academic value.
5. A lot of students in fact enroll at courses, merely to appear for government exams, thus defeating the very purpose of the subsidies in the first place.

Against the Motion

There are also some points that may be used to justify not going for such an alignment. They may be as follows:

1. There are several ways to improve the economy, and reduce the costs. Compromising on higher education should not be one of them.
2. JNU of all institutions should not bear the brunt, as this is one university that has repeatedly finished on top of several university rankings, both nationally as well as international.
3. The reason for the subsidized fee at JNU is partly due to the fact that several of the students who study here, belong to economically poor families. This is one platform for people from such backgrounds to stand equal with their wealthier peers, who are often from bigger cities.
4. While it is true that several students studying at JNU and other large universities, utilize time to appear and even crack government exams, this does not go waste either. A government job is also a platform to help develop the country, so the subsidies are utilized in a positive way. In fact, some of India’s finest bureaucrats have emerged through this system, and been beneficiaries of this subsidy culture.
5. The example of the IIMs and some other professional institutions may be relevant at one level, but does not present the holistic picture. This is because the IIMs are meant to create Master’s level business managers, who are expected to work in corporates and such businesses. JNU is primarily for the purpose of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts. These are areas of much needed focus for the country now.
6. JNU is also especially renowned worldwide for its Doctoral level studies. Unlike at the PG level, after which one can start earning full time from as early as the age of 22, a doctoral programme followed by an academic career, has a long gestation period. If not encouraged through academic subsidies, these careers will simply disappear, and we will not have enough academicians for higher education.
7. JNU is also an affiliating university for several other standalone colleges, which have contributed immensely to the nation. This decision sends the wrong message to those colleges and academies as well.

There are compelling reasons on both sides of the divide for students to choose, as long as they do not resort to mere emotional rhetoric. To prove one’s point, citing of data released by credible sources such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Economic Forum (WEF), Forbes, Business Insider, Bloomberg, etc. will be useful. They would do well to focus on the 4 Cs of Group Discussions- Content, Collaboration, Communications and Clarity.

About the Author:

Aritro Dasgupta is a Teacher, Trainer and Content Writer. He has taught at several leading colleges and coaching institutes in both India and the UAE. Several of his students have finished in the top 10 of various national level exams such as CLAT, AILET and DUJAT. He is also a prolific content writer, having written for several leading publications in India, while currently, also working for one in the USA.

 

 

 

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