In India, the choices of higher education have family expectations, financial strain and social judgment. As more students are attracted to large universities with shiny names, an increasing number decide to go to affordable small colleges based on practical and financial considerations. Sadly, such a decision is commonly referred to as settling to less. The reality is more complicated and the stigma that is associated with affordable education should be challenged.
Why Society Frowns on Less Costly Alternatives
There is a strong belief in the Indian families about the fact that you earn what you pay. Colleges that are costly are being perceived as sources of prestige whereas more affordable schools are portrayed as compromises. This prejudice is partly due to old-fashioned thought - in which brand names are more important than results - and partly to the fear that lower costs will narrow opportunities.
However, the statistics say otherwise. There are more than 40 million students in higher education in India, and a substantial proportion of them are in private colleges. The number of these institutions is so diverse that the cost itself cannot be used as a description of quality. Most of the mid-level colleges also invest in good teaching, industry relations and hands-on experience, despite their relatively affordable tuition.
The Secret Strength of Low-Cost Privates
The stigma tends to dwarf the true merits of smaller, cheaper institutions. They might not have expansive campuses or the most glitzy of infrastructure but are frequently able to make up in flexibility and a more personal student faculty relationship. Indeed, students tend to get more individualized guidance in smaller classes.
To first-generation students or families who are balancing limited resources, these colleges are their stepping stones without causing crippling financial debt. This is important since the value of a degree in the long-term is not measured by its price but in the skills and confidence the students obtain. Affordable college alumni have since been able to achieve stable jobs, pass competitive exams, and establish successful businesses- which now demonstrates that opportunity is not the sole province of high-priced schools.
Breaking Down the Stigma
To a large extent, the stigma is not created by employers, but by the society itself. In the hiring process, and particularly in situations where skills are more quantifiable than brand loyalty, hiring managers are beginning to believe more in what a graduate is capable of doing than where they were educated. The problem-solving skills, internships, projects and flexibility are usually evaluated rather than the logo displayed on a degree.
This change is already apparent in the Indian startup environment and service sector, where the value of practical knowledge is already taking the place of theoretical glory. In their persistence to reject affordable private colleges as inferior, families are also denying themselves useful avenues that can offer them education and a financial breathing room.
Reinventing the Idea of Prestige in Education
Tuition fees and beauty of the campuses are not sufficient to gauge education. In its purest form prestige should be the result--how effectively a college can prepare its students to become competent workers. When used wisely, affordable private colleges can tend to offer that foundation, at just a fraction of the price.
To students and parents, it is not the question of the college cost that is smarter, it is the question of what opportunities this college will open to them. This is an important revaluation in a nation where the cost of education is one of the biggest source of household debt.
Towards a More Inclusive Mind
This demographic dividend of India relies on the growing access to higher education. Such growth cannot take place when society is still associating quality with price. The biggest problem is to make sure that all students, despite their background, can find a place that can help develop them.
Demystifying the low cost private colleges is not only about the decisions in particular families making smarter decisions but it is also about the community benefitting by collectively appreciating the value of education based on what it provides and not the price. Affordability ought to be applauded as opposed to being frowned upon in case the final aim of education is empowerment.
Conclusion
There must be a reset on the discussion about education in India. Prestige and opportunity do not exist alone and are based on the finer quality of learning, skills and doors afterwards. When the stigma surrounding affordable private colleges is challenged, both the students and the parents will be able to accept a choice that will be practical and empowering at the same time. Redefining success in such a manner, over time, would help ensure education is more open and reachable - without undermining excellence.
