Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI1245
2009-06-16 10:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

U/S BURNS MEETS INDIAN HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MINISTER

Tags:  KPAO OIIP SCUL PGOV ECON PHUM PK PREL PTER IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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)

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



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