Should formal education be made compulsory for leaders & ministers?

AyushSinha

For the sake of winning an argument , we can all defend to a great extent the fact that minimum education will be less democratic + above arguments = an educated Indian may not make a better politician.

However, if even a platform like ours ( elitist, you may say ) does not champion the cause of minimum education for governance , who will?

The arguments against the criteria are easy to make. Anyone here with solid arguments for minimum education to be a politician ?

SoTC

The higher levels of our legislative system at least need formally educated people. The lower levels will lead to an exclusionary effect as of now. Maybe later on.

AyushSinha

The Supreme Court has already declared this ordinance to be valid and upholding the Fundamental Rights. Taking this debate then, out of the purview of its constitutional validity and whether it violates the Right to Equality or not etc, I'm highlighting some issues which may still arise from an ethical standpoint, if not from a legal one:-

1. Are we at that stage yet? With more than 26% of our population still completely illiterate, will the step of introducing minimum qualifications act towards improving governance or will it covertly and implicitly work towards excluding a large electorate from contesting elections?

2. Introducing such reforms at the grassroots stage acts in violation to the very concept of grassroots democracy itself. Inherent within the concept of grassroots democracy is the fundamental principle of participation and inclusion.

3. Hypothetically, what is the extent to which we, as a nation, are willing to go in order to usher in governance reforms? Can this be also argued that in future, the right to vote is also curtailed in a similar manner where age criteria, along with a minimum educational qualification determines the eligibility to cast a vote? Certainly the right to vote is NOT a fundamental right, it is a mere constitutional right which can be amended. Will this step be accepted too, in hopes of better governance? If not, then why this one?

4. The root cause of inefficiency in governance system is corruption and not illiteracy per say. And corruption is not at all correlated to the education of a person. An educated grassroots governance structure is no less likely to indulge in corruption than an educated one. Eliminating corruption and ensuring better vigilance and anti-corruption measures should be given priority to usher in governance reforms than introducing any such big bang reforms which can have unintended consequences like exclusion of a large electorate from contesting elections.

I completely support having minimum educational qualification for politicians. Let us take point by point ..

Argument:
Are we at that stage yet? With more than 26% of our population still completely illiterate, will the step of introducing minimum qualifications act towards improving governance or will it covertly and implicitly work towards excluding a large electorate from contesting elections?

My view:
I agree partially. But, If literacy is 100%, there is no need for this requirement at all. We are in better position now compared to what we were at the time of independence.

Argument:
Introducing such reforms at the grass roots stage acts in violation to the very concept of grassroots democracy itself. Inherent within the concept of grass roots democracy is the fundamental principle of participation and inclusion.

My view: I do not think it is violation of grassroot democracy. That rule is already bent in terms of age, reservation etc. requirements. For example why can't a citizen of 18 years of age contest in the election? Is this not violation of his/her right granted by democracy? My point is democracy promises any citizen can be a contestant provided some basic qualifications are met. It is up to the contestant's capacity to be qualified for the position. As you know, we are not setting PG level education requirement per say. If the candidate is very much interested to serve the people, he/she has the option of studying/writing exams in open schooling/university.

Argument:
The root cause of inefficiency in governance system is corruption and not illiteracy per say. And corruption is not at all correlated to the education of a person. An educated grassroots governance structure is no less likely to indulge in corruption than an educated one. Eliminating corruption and ensuring better vigilance and anti-corruption measures should be given priority to usher in governance reforms than introducing any such big bang reforms which can have unintended consequences like exclusion of a large electorate from contesting elections

My view: In modern world, administration and leadership demand more technical knowledge of various sectors such as economy, science, technology, engineering, health, biotechnology etc. The primary job of legislatures is to make laws, for example, Can an illiterate member of parliament understand Biodiversity act or TRAI act, let alone making laws on those topics. Imagine if he/she becomes minister? Should all citizens suffer just to ascertain rights of very few? Education may not eliminate corruption but certainly gives hope for efficiency.

That being said, we have to implement this in top down approach i.e. first at parliament level and then at state level and finally local govt level.

Thank you, very logical arguments. Would you be interested in representing ForumIAS in any TV debates in future? We are media shy, and often lack the manpower to do so. PM me if you would like to, in the future.

Thank you.

Etat

If we can compromise on democracy and freeze delimitations against a rising population, shouldn't we compromise on it a little more to further the cause of universal education? Absolute democracy would be anarchy (literal definition). Ours is a democracy tempered with reason and responsive to causes that boost general wellbeing. This move may be a bitter pill in the short run, but it'll certainly go a long way to improving our administration, and therefore, giving a fillip to democracy.

Etat

And for those who claim that education cannot help fight corruption - how about implementing end-to-end computerisation? Does that help? Can uneducated leaders implement that?

The political clamour opposing this also includes vested interests who do not want transparency.

Achcontender

bhai wo sab to thik hai but in gadho ko padhayga kaun simple B.ed k bus ka rog na!

ramon

Guys, what are your views on the need for educational qualification for politicians? This, in the light of SC order upholding the ordinance of Haryana Govt for the same.

NDTV wants our views ( ForumIAS's ) on the same. I would be curious to know what you think, with some good arguments.

@modernashoka , @aks others, Can you share some views in favour and against?

Bhai RKP ? which batch ?

Etat

@AyushSinha : Tell us a little more about this NDTV thing. Is it likely to become a regular feature?