Vivek Ramaswamy: China And Singapore Are Years Ahead Of US Students
India-West News Desk
CINCINNATI, OH – Despite the backlash and his exiting the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after criticizing American culture, Vivek Ramaswamy continues to emphasize the rise of mediocrity and the need to address it.
His latest remarks come as the Department of Education faces deep cuts under the Trump administration.
“We can’t ignore the educational achievement crisis anymore. Students in China are four years ahead of ours. Students in Singapore are a full five years ahead. Seventy-five percent of U.S. eighth graders aren’t proficient in math. Shutting down the failed U.S. Department of Education is a good first step, but it’s going to fall on the states to fix the problem,” Ramaswamy said on March 17.
The Ohio gubernatorial candidate has been vocal about the decline in academic standards, arguing that the U.S. education system lags behind global competitors.
Ramaswamy has made education reform a central pillar of his campaign. One of his key proposals? “Get the cell phones out of the schools.”
His outspoken criticism of American culture—particularly his claim that the U.S. glorifies mediocrity—sparked backlash in the past within the Republican Party. He specifically pointed to the reliance on H-1B workers in tech, arguing that the U.S. education system fails to produce top-tier engineers. His remarks rankled conservatives, leading to his departure from DOGE on the day of Trump’s inauguration.
Also Read:- Ami Bera, Dem Physicians Launch Congressional Caucus
Jagjit Singh, CA
/
The Threat to Higher Education and the Pursuit of Truth
In recent years, political leaders have sought to shift democracies toward authoritarianism by undermining key institutions, particularly those that uphold truth and accountability, such as the media, judiciary, and higher education. President Putin of Russia, along with leaders like Orban, Modi, and Erdogan, has targeted academic institutions, recognizing that the pursuit of knowledge poses a threat to their power. President Trump, , has followed similar tactics, including firing government officials, suing media organizations, and undermining the judiciary.
Trump’s administration has intensified its attacks on higher education, enacting cuts to federal funding for scientific research and imposing new taxes on university endowments. These measures threaten not only academic freedom but also the global leadership of U.S. universities in fields like medical and scientific research, which depend on federal investment. Furthermore, the crackdown on free speech, seen in the arrest of campus activists, only adds to the growing concerns.
Despite valid criticisms of higher education’s elitism and ideological biases, the attack on universities must be seen for what it is: a political strategy that undermines essential institutions for public health, economic growth, and national security. It is crucial for both the public and university leaders to defend the values of inquiry, science, and knowledge in these challenging times.
Jagjit Singh, CA
March 18, 2025