Here's a recent Hindu article, Panel on education policy wants UGC Act to lapse, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panel-on-education-policy-wants-ugc-act-to-lapse/article8749251.ece, dated June 20th 2016.
It states that the committee tasked with creating a new national higher education policy headed by former cabinet secretary, T.S.R. Subramanian, has recommended that the law that set up the nation's premier higher education policy regulator, the University Grants Commission (UGC), be allowed to lapse.
I looked up MHRD website and UGC website for a document view/download link for this report but could not find it. This MHRD press release document, http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/Press_release.PDF, dated May 27th 2016, states that the committee's report was submitted to MHRD. "The Committee for the evolution of a National Education Policy has submitted the report containing its recommendations to the Ministry of HRD. The Union Minister for Human Resource Development thanked the Chairman and all members of the Committee for their commitment and efforts." But it does not have a link for the report itself (perhaps it has not yet been made public).
Given below are some quotes from the report the committee recently submitted to Minstry of Human Resource Development (India's union/federal education ministry), as reported by the abovementioned Hindu article:
The Committee was informed that there are widespread irregularities in grant of approval of institutions and courses. There are serious concerns about the quality of education provided by a large number of colleges/universities; it is the responsibility of the UGC to monitor standards of education in higher education institutions and the UGC has not succeeded in ensuring this. The credibility of the UGC has been seriously dented by approvals given to a large number of sub-standard colleges and deemed universities.
...
An expert Committee recently has examined thoroughly the past, present and future role of UGC; the report is under examination by the Ministry. It is understood that the report had concluded that the UGC does not have the adequate number of personnel, of requisite quality, to be an effective regulatory force in the higher education sector.
...
The UGC could be revamped, made considerably leaner and thinner, and could be the nodal point for administration of the proposed National Higher Education Fellowship Programme, without any other promotional or regulatory function.
--- end reported statements from the TSR Subramanian committee report ---
Ravi: If the regulatory function is removed from UGC then who will regulate higher education in the country? Has the TSR Subramanian committee proposed a new national higher education regulator body?
In this context it may be appropriate to share some extracts from another committee report submitted to MHRD in March 2015 (last year), the Hari Gautam committee report, from this article, http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/hrd-ministry-niti-aayog-examine-gautam-panel-report-on-ugc-115080200081_1.html, dated August 2nd, 2015:
--- start Hari Gautam committee report statements (as reported by above article) ---
[UGC] "failed to fulfil its mandate but also has not been able to deal with emerging diverse complexities."
...
[A new national higher education authority was suggested to be set up through an act of Parliament (new law) which would replace the UGC.] .. "any reshaping or restructuring of the UGC will be a futile exercise".
...
It (UGC) has side-stepped its function of being a sentinel of excellence in education and embraced the relatively easier function of funding education.
...
UGC chairperson "should be advised to strictly keep a vigilant track of the various performance areas of the UGC and assess contribution at all levels".
--- end Hari Gautam committee report statements (as reported by above article) ---
[I thank mhrd.gov.in, thehindu.com and business-standard.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extracts from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
It states that the committee tasked with creating a new national higher education policy headed by former cabinet secretary, T.S.R. Subramanian, has recommended that the law that set up the nation's premier higher education policy regulator, the University Grants Commission (UGC), be allowed to lapse.
I looked up MHRD website and UGC website for a document view/download link for this report but could not find it. This MHRD press release document, http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/Press_release.PDF, dated May 27th 2016, states that the committee's report was submitted to MHRD. "The Committee for the evolution of a National Education Policy has submitted the report containing its recommendations to the Ministry of HRD. The Union Minister for Human Resource Development thanked the Chairman and all members of the Committee for their commitment and efforts." But it does not have a link for the report itself (perhaps it has not yet been made public).
Given below are some quotes from the report the committee recently submitted to Minstry of Human Resource Development (India's union/federal education ministry), as reported by the abovementioned Hindu article:
The Committee was informed that there are widespread irregularities in grant of approval of institutions and courses. There are serious concerns about the quality of education provided by a large number of colleges/universities; it is the responsibility of the UGC to monitor standards of education in higher education institutions and the UGC has not succeeded in ensuring this. The credibility of the UGC has been seriously dented by approvals given to a large number of sub-standard colleges and deemed universities.
...
An expert Committee recently has examined thoroughly the past, present and future role of UGC; the report is under examination by the Ministry. It is understood that the report had concluded that the UGC does not have the adequate number of personnel, of requisite quality, to be an effective regulatory force in the higher education sector.
...
The UGC could be revamped, made considerably leaner and thinner, and could be the nodal point for administration of the proposed National Higher Education Fellowship Programme, without any other promotional or regulatory function.
--- end reported statements from the TSR Subramanian committee report ---
Ravi: If the regulatory function is removed from UGC then who will regulate higher education in the country? Has the TSR Subramanian committee proposed a new national higher education regulator body?
In this context it may be appropriate to share some extracts from another committee report submitted to MHRD in March 2015 (last year), the Hari Gautam committee report, from this article, http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/hrd-ministry-niti-aayog-examine-gautam-panel-report-on-ugc-115080200081_1.html, dated August 2nd, 2015:
--- start Hari Gautam committee report statements (as reported by above article) ---
[UGC] "failed to fulfil its mandate but also has not been able to deal with emerging diverse complexities."
...
[A new national higher education authority was suggested to be set up through an act of Parliament (new law) which would replace the UGC.] .. "any reshaping or restructuring of the UGC will be a futile exercise".
...
It (UGC) has side-stepped its function of being a sentinel of excellence in education and embraced the relatively easier function of funding education.
...
UGC chairperson "should be advised to strictly keep a vigilant track of the various performance areas of the UGC and assess contribution at all levels".
--- end Hari Gautam committee report statements (as reported by above article) ---
[I thank mhrd.gov.in, thehindu.com and business-standard.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extracts from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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