‘IIMs need not worry about quality over implementation of OBC quota’

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 24, 2007
IIMs should not have to worry about the quality of intake with the implementation of 27 per cent OBC quota if the students are provided with remedial teaching. This view was aired by Samuel Paul, a member of the oversight committee formed by the ministry of human resource development to look into various aspects of the implementation of 27 per cent quota in higher education institutions including IIMs and IITs.
The oversight committee has already recommended the implementation of OBC quota over the period of 3 years along with the development of requisite infrastructure.
While delivering his speech at the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) convention on Emerging India: Strategic Transformation of Indian Industry and Management Education organised at the Kolkata IIM, Paul (also Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore chairman) said, “IIMs should not fear about a slump in quality as regards students. On the contrary, they should organise for the remedial teaching for students from backward class and rural areas. The management institutions are not short on funds and will definitely not have a problem in providing remedial coaching for those weak in certain areas.”
Drawing a comparison with the BPO industry, Paul said, “The BPOs have been recruiting heavily from rural areas by training students in spoken English. It has already been proved that if proper teaching tools are used then weak students too can deliver. The management institutions should look at this model.”
He also urged management institutions not to turn down students because they do not have the personality or spoken English skills required to be a manager but should answer the problem through remedial teaching.
Another problem faced by management institutions is in finding quality faculty. Paul suggested that the small management colleges should come together and offer doctoral degrees to the students jointly. “Out of hundred students getting doctorate degrees every year only 25 come to teaching. If the management institutes offer joint doctoral degrees then they would not only be able to share each other’s infrastructure but can also churn out more doctorates,” he said.
Paul spoke about his worries associated with the deterioration in quality with the mushrooming management institutions. “There are so many management institutions coming up every day. All have different quality levels but who is going to judge their quality? It is high time that we too have accreditation agencies for management institutes,” he said. Paul advised management institutions not to depend on case studies from Harvard and instead take on local examples.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com