U/S BURNS MEETS INDIAN HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 001245 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2019 TAGS: KPAO OIIP SCUL PGOV ECON PHUM PK PREL PTER IN SUBJECT: U/S BURNS MEETS INDIAN HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MINISTER Classified By: Charge D'affaires Peter Burleigh for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Kapil Sibal, the genial and upbeat new Minister of Human Resources Development (MHRD) welcomed Under Secretary Burns and his delegation for a tour d'horizon of India's educational challenges and a proposal for partnership. In office only two weeks, Sibal is clearly relishing the opportunity to bring new energy and forward motion to a Ministry that has languished for years. Sibal briefed the delegation on the reforms he plans to pursue in line with the Prime Minister's vision of India as an aspiring knowledge society. In partnership with the United States, Sibal believes, India can become both a sender and recipient of the human capital that will fuel tomorrow's economy. Sibal and Burns discussed various models of education cooperation and agreed to explore in capitals a basic two-tiered approach: a dialogue between senior officials that would involve private sector and university leaders from both sides, and a discussion on the margins of the CEO Forum that would leverage specific private sector resources and interest. Sibal noted he would like to visit the U.S. soon to promote educational engagement. End Summary. Picking up the Pieces -------------- ¶1. (C). The new Minister of Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal, a veteran Congress Party MP representing the heart of old Delhi, reflected on his steep challenges during a June 11 meeting with Under Secretary Burns, CDA Peter Burleigh, and Assistant Secretary Robert Blake. India's Ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar, and MEA Americas staff also participated. Sibal, with whom the Mission has had a long, cooperative relationship, outlined what he saw as a critical opportunity to pursue educational reforms that, in his view, will position India to take advantage of the "knowledge century." Former Congress HRD Minister Arjun Singh and his predecessor in the BJP government were widely thought of as political appointments that were indifferent to the future of the country's educational system. Sisal's early moves have been warmly greeted across the political and economic spectrum, making him one of the early stars of the new Cabinet. ¶2. (C). Sibal outlined the Prime Minister's vision of India as a country committed to partnership with the United States in education as well as science and technology, his portfolio in the previous UPA government. Looking forward to a Knowledge Century, he affirmed, India and China were the two principal countries that would serve as potential providers for a world hungry for large, skilled workforces. In preparation for that role and as eager recipients of knowledge in new fields, India would welcome a vigorous educational partnership with the United States. EDUCATIONAL DIALOGUES -------------- ¶3. (C). Reflecting on Indians' thirst for quality education and the high expectations of continuing along the lines from previous discussions held at MEA, Sibal proposed that our governments establish a regular education dialogue that might meet twice annually in each capital and include both government and education representatives. Sibal and Burns hoped that this dialogue would work in cooperation with the U.S.-India CEO Forum. The dialogues could focus on promoting scholarship in areas of critical knowledge needs, teacher/faculty training, university to university collaborations, educational administration and management. Under Secretary Burns acknowledged that Sibal's ideas fit into the structure we are discussing for the next steps in the bilateral relationship and reflected a shared global vision and ways we can all contribute. FOREIGN EDUCATIONAL PROVIDERS BILL TO MOVE -------------- ¶4. (C). Sibal told the delegation that during the previous government, he had been among a group of Ministers interested in actively promoting educational reforms in the country. He signaled his intention to push forward with legislation opening education to foreign direct investment and expected to have the bill through Parliament by the end of 2009. Noting that India currently has only $90 billion in educational investments but needed $250 billion, he indicated a desire to "craft an environment for serious and qualified investors" who would be willing to make "a serious commitment between partners that is good for India and good for the world." With over 80,000 Indian students in the U.S. and perhaps 500,000 total overseas in search of higher education, "people are demanding action" to expand educational opportunity in the country. EDUCATION AS COUNTER-TERRORISM -------------- ¶6. (C). Sibal offered his view that educational progress in India would help the government provide "one answer to terrorism." He revealed plans, not yet public, to move legislation soon that will bring Indian madrassas, which currently operate outside the Ministry's supervision, under government supervision. By requiring the inclusion of "modern and secular subjects" in addition to religious studies, the government could reinforce tolerance and pluralism in India, and prepare madrassa students for gainful employment after school. Sibal mused that he would like to find ways to open some of the reformed institutions, as well as more Indian tertiary institutions, to Pakistani students. - India is already hosting large numbers of Afghan students as part of its foreign assistance program. S&T COOPERATION -------------- ¶7. (C). Asked areas for potential S&T collaboration, Sibal replied that energy and environment provide the greatest potential areas for collaboration, especially solar, clean coal technologies, and bioenergy. The Prime Minister is committed to alternate sources of energy, Sibal observed. The potential for collaboration in health matters is also great, he noted. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY UNDERINVESTMENT - RIGHT TO EDUCATION, ENGLISH -------------- ¶8. (C). In response to a query from the Under Secretary, Sibal also welcomed ideas for collaboration in primary and secondary education, as well as skills development and technical training. He noted that 12% of Indian young people ultimately graduate from high school, substantially below the 27% global average. Sibal noted that while there were great opportunities for growth in tertiary education, he would remain focused on improving primary education systems as well; about half of India's 1.1 billion people are under age 25. The Ministry would look for incentives to engage the private sector in high quality primary, secondary and vocational education. First up will be a Right to Education bill that Parliament may pass in its July session, assuring that funding will be in place for free public education for every Indian child. Sisal's Ministry will be working with State governments, which bear the burden for administering public schools, to assure the necessary funding is in place. They will also focus on teacher skills training and administrative reforms to discipline nonperforming teachers. Queried by Assistant Secretary Blake, Sibal confirmed that the government will emphasize English language education - in addition to other national languages, where necessary - to regain lost strength in an area which had previously been one of India's competitive advantages. ¶9. (C). Under Secretary Burns noted that President Obama and Secretary Clinton had both given substantial thought to the challenges of education for the global economy. Burns thought a new educational dialogue would serve both nations' interests. Sibal replied that education was a critical area and deserved leaders' attention. Comment: -------------- ¶10. (C). Minister Sibal outlined an aggressive calendar for enhanced U.S.-India educational collaboration: Parliament could conceivably pass legislation permitting foreign investment in India's education system by late 2009; a meeting of Indian and American educational leaders on the margins of the September 2009 CEO Forum could help to establish a regular working group on these issues; and a formal meeting of such a working group later in 2009 could kick-start a U.S.-India Education Dialogue. Sibal noted interest in meeting with his Minister-level counterpart in Washington in the near-future. ¶11. (C) Sibal seems to understand that improving demonstrably the parlous state of Indian education will take more than money. Indians have been increasingly vocal about their disappointment with the government's performance in providing quality education, while extolling the global achievements of some institutions and individuals. Reform-minded and a strong advocate of close U.S. - India relations within the Congress Party, Sibal will be a willing partner for our educational dialogue. His admonition that it should be "action oriented" reflects the pressure he is feeling, only a few weeks into the job, to deliver. BURLEIGH .