ABSTRACT
The central role of science and technology (S&T) as envisaged by the policy-makers meant that a large infrastructure of research, training, and teaching would need to be created virtually from scratch. The various issues which impact education in the specific cases of undergraduate and postgraduate education in general and in science in particular include the curriculum, the assessment or examination system, human resources, infrastructure, and access. The examination or assessment system prevalent in most undergraduate institutions is highly centralised, where no distinction is made between the immense variations among the colleges. Physical infrastructure includes classrooms with at least elementary teaching aids, tutorial rooms, and rooms for faculty members, well-stocked libraries, computers, internet connectivity, and laboratories, as well as recreational areas, toilets, etc. Education is not just about increasing the enrolment numbers by fiat. It is about providing genuine opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds to enlarge their mental and cognitive capabilities.
