The Expansion Of Ethos And Purpose Of Higher Education

With the expansion of educational opportunities, there has been a significant upward mobility in the educational system and enrolment in colleges and universities has increased phenomenally in the developed as well as the developing countries. This quantitative explosion has created its own educational ethos, and a rise in what might be called “the educational standard of living”. Higher education has come to serve a vocational purpose as students enter into it with the chief aim of qualifying themselves for a job. Moreover, coming from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, often as the first generation entrants into higher education, their aspirations are different; so also are their expectations from universities’ teaching. Such a change in the ethos and purpose of higher education has to be matched by a change in the teaching also. However, the situation seems to be contradictory in terms of improving communication skills.

Speaking English is rarely observed. The intermediate or +2 level acts as a bridge between school level education and higher level education. Considering the students from intermediate board, much emphasis is given to core subjects and students are thoroughly prepared for IIT, AIEEE, BITSAT, EAMCET etc. During these two years study, the learners are not exposed to language learning be it English, Sanskrit or Hindi expect for two or three months before the final examinations. Language is learnt as a subject to pass or acquire a very good percentage. The learners are not exposed to develop their language skills. Ultimately, at the graduate level, the learners are found with poor LSRW skills and communication