The Big Fight: What is Wrong With Our Higher Education System?

The recent news of colleges under Delhi University setting a cut-off of 99 per cent and above marks has shocked educationists, scholars, teachers, commentators all over the country. Not only is such a high marks preposterous but also it defies logic and in general the real worth of those who score such a high percentage. Are these students really that good to achieve such marks or is it the system which is churning out students capable of scoring high marks and yet are bogged down when it comes to innovation and cutting-edge research? Are we 'manufacturing' drones instead of learned, wise men? Should there be an alternative to the present marks-based system? Also in spite of boasting students endowed with high-intellect and IQ why are Indian Universities lagging far behind their US and European counterparts? What is the solution? Is private participation and relaxation of rules and regulations the way out? What do those students do who fail to score high marks? We debate on The Big Fight.