New (and a tad long) post on elite colleges in India,, national economic mobility, privilege and what it says about us.
Thread.
linkedin.com/pulse/merit-sc…
Thread.
linkedin.com/pulse/merit-sc…
2/17
It is common to use IIT/IIM as a shorthand to refer to elite colleges in India. Sometimes IIT/IIM/BITS or IIT/NIT/IIMs and so on.
We lack a moniker like the U.S.'s Ivy or France's Grande Ecoles.
So I created one.
It is common to use IIT/IIM as a shorthand to refer to elite colleges in India. Sometimes IIT/IIM/BITS or IIT/NIT/IIMs and so on.
We lack a moniker like the U.S.'s Ivy or France's Grande Ecoles.
So I created one.
3/17
We can look at any top tier college in India, from the IITs to Xaviers / Ashoka, and you will see that they tick these 4 boxes – selectivity in intake, all India (national) intake, presence in a metro or residential nature, and English-fluency.
We can look at any top tier college in India, from the IITs to Xaviers / Ashoka, and you will see that they tick these 4 boxes – selectivity in intake, all India (national) intake, presence in a metro or residential nature, and English-fluency.
4/
Given above, I propose the term MERIT schools or colleges. MERIT is an acronym for
M = Metro-based
E = English-fluency of students who graduate (at least in writing / reading)
R = Residential (boarding) nature of most
I = All India or national intake
T = Tough to get in to.
Given above, I propose the term MERIT schools or colleges. MERIT is an acronym for
M = Metro-based
E = English-fluency of students who graduate (at least in writing / reading)
R = Residential (boarding) nature of most
I = All India or national intake
T = Tough to get in to.
5/
MERIT colleges comprise not only IITs & BITS but also VIT, Manipal, PESIT, Ashoka, the National Law Schools, & also NID, Srishti, St Stephen’s, Xaviers etc...any college that is selective, has national intake, residential (or based in Metro) and sees 'people like us' emerge.
MERIT colleges comprise not only IITs & BITS but also VIT, Manipal, PESIT, Ashoka, the National Law Schools, & also NID, Srishti, St Stephen’s, Xaviers etc...any college that is selective, has national intake, residential (or based in Metro) and sees 'people like us' emerge.
6/17
'I' in MERIT.
We are seeing a 2-track edu channel emerge in India. In the national, & elite track, you go to an urban, English medium national or international school, then to a MERIT school & eventually join a corporate with a national or international presence.
'I' in MERIT.
We are seeing a 2-track edu channel emerge in India. In the national, & elite track, you go to an urban, English medium national or international school, then to a MERIT school & eventually join a corporate with a national or international presence.
7/17
This ‘national track’ India is about 10% of India and gets a large share of the economic spoils, in contrast to the parallel regional / local track that is much larger but has a lower share of the economic spoils.
This ‘national track’ India is about 10% of India and gets a large share of the economic spoils, in contrast to the parallel regional / local track that is much larger but has a lower share of the economic spoils.
8/17
Historically in India, national consciousness - derived from national economic mobility - and english-speaking and elite stature have all conflated.
Historically in India, national consciousness - derived from national economic mobility - and english-speaking and elite stature have all conflated.
9/17
There are ~200m Indians who have national economic mobility, about 3/4ths are English speakers, the rest blue-collar economic migrants. These 150m or so Indians are what I refer to as national track Indians / India1 – PLUs who fly, use credit cards and drive cars.
There are ~200m Indians who have national economic mobility, about 3/4ths are English speakers, the rest blue-collar economic migrants. These 150m or so Indians are what I refer to as national track Indians / India1 – PLUs who fly, use credit cards and drive cars.
10/17
Every year or so, a few odd million get added to the group.
One way to see India’s economic progress & history over the past millennia is the expansion in the number of people who have national economic mobility across India, & have thus acquired a national consciousness.
Every year or so, a few odd million get added to the group.
One way to see India’s economic progress & history over the past millennia is the expansion in the number of people who have national economic mobility across India, & have thus acquired a national consciousness.
11/17
'T' in MERIT.
Historically selectivity in India was determined by 'objective' merit. That is, a rank on a test (such as the IIT JEE) or even your score or marks in the Class XII exams.
We all did this to enter national track India. But our kids wont / cant do it!
'T' in MERIT.
Historically selectivity in India was determined by 'objective' merit. That is, a rank on a test (such as the IIT JEE) or even your score or marks in the Class XII exams.
We all did this to enter national track India. But our kids wont / cant do it!
12/17
Hence, we are beginning to see rise of a parallel subjective merit track like in Ashoka, FLAME etc - here the evaluation is on the whole student - leading to an extracurricular arms race as this tweet shows -
Hence, we are beginning to see rise of a parallel subjective merit track like in Ashoka, FLAME etc - here the evaluation is on the whole student - leading to an extracurricular arms race as this tweet shows -
Unlike China which is strictly objective merit (basis the Gaokao) - yes they make it easier for Beijing & Shanghai students to enter elite univs somewhat; but if your kids doesnt want to do Gaokao, then you have to send them abroad - India has room to accomodate subjective merit.
14/
'E' in MERIT
Not much to write here - this seems fairly obvious given how English determines, reinforces and is reinforced by access to economic opportunity in India.
Expect in 20-30 yrs to hv a large number of Indo-Anglians amongst us w Indian English as our mother tongue!
'E' in MERIT
Not much to write here - this seems fairly obvious given how English determines, reinforces and is reinforced by access to economic opportunity in India.
Expect in 20-30 yrs to hv a large number of Indo-Anglians amongst us w Indian English as our mother tongue!
15/17
'M','R' in MERIT
Interesting to me how you cant set up a new aspiring elite college in a remote part of India any more. You cant get corporate execs to visit for placement and spouses of academics cant get a job.
'M','R' in MERIT
Interesting to me how you cant set up a new aspiring elite college in a remote part of India any more. You cant get corporate execs to visit for placement and spouses of academics cant get a job.
16
Of course I am presuming here that COVID wont make the physical campus irrelevant. A key element of MERIT or elite colleges is the opportunity for socializing amongst People Like Us. That isnt ever likely to disappear. MERIT colleges will be the last to be impacted by COVID.
Of course I am presuming here that COVID wont make the physical campus irrelevant. A key element of MERIT or elite colleges is the opportunity for socializing amongst People Like Us. That isnt ever likely to disappear. MERIT colleges will be the last to be impacted by COVID.
17/17 & FIN.
There is lots more in the essay I havent unpacked.
And I would love you to read it. And I would love to hear back!
Here is the link again!
linkedin.com/pulse/merit-sc…
There is lots more in the essay I havent unpacked.
And I would love you to read it. And I would love to hear back!
Here is the link again!
linkedin.com/pulse/merit-sc…
