A committee headed by the Chief Secretary is likely to be constituted soon to discuss a report of the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) on issues pertaining to the setting up of private universities. The government will also take into account the recommendations on privatisation made by the Commission for Reforms in Higher Education.
Four higher education institutions had sought the government’s nod to submit applications before the University Grants Commission (UGC) for deemed-to-be university status, according to the Department of Higher Education.
Institutions funded by the State / Central government require a letter of commitment from the respective government stating that it will continue financial support to the institution even after declaring it as a deemed-to-be university. The State currently has two government-funded institutions enjoying the status — Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (under the Department of Space), and Kerala Kalamandalam, Thrissur.
As per the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2019, an institution has to be in existence for not less than 20 years and secure valid accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with at least 3.26 Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) for three consecutive cycles at the time of applying for deemed-to-be university status. For technical institutions, two-thirds of their eligible technical programmes have to be accredited by the National Board of Accreditation. The institution should also figure among the top 50 ranks in any specific category or among the top 100 in the overall ranking of the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF).
The decision to evolve a legal and policy framework for deemed-to-be universities has the support of the Chief Minister, who had proposed private investments in higher education and health sectors in the Nava Keralam vision document approved by the CPI(M) recently. In a marked shift from its earlier policy that opposed privatisation in higher education, the party is now looking forward to setting up centres of excellence in both public and private sectors.
‘Revolutionary change’
T.P. Sreenivasan, former Vice Chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council termed the government’s move to liberalise higher education a revolutionary change.
“The LDF had long held that private investment would not be allowed in higher education, even though the mainstay of education in the State has always been public-private participation. More recently, self-financing institutions had changed the face of medical and engineering education in the State,” he said.
Mr. Sreenivasan added that Left-leaning intellectuals and educationists had opposed the Global Education Meet, alleging that it would result in commercialisation and commoditisation of education.
“The participants from many countries were shocked by the developments and went back, swearing not to come again. The sudden change of heart by Left intellectuals is hard to explain, but it is obvious that wisdom has dawned on them,” he said.
Amruth G. Kumar, Professor, School of Education, Central University of Kerala, said the government’s move would actuate many existing autonomous colleges to upgrade themselves to deemed-to-be universities.
Fair access to education
Prof. Kumar said the liberty would open up opportunities for the institutions to start demand-based programmes, which could attract a large number of students and reasonably good surplus to its balance sheet. “The government and aided institutions will be constrained to follow this path, as it has financial implications for the exchequer. Naturally, self-financing inside the aided and government system may emerge as an alternative,” he said.
The educationist pointed out that there was no reason to believe that the move could improve access to education in a fair manner. “As the whole move will create a wave of privatisation in higher education, the increase in enrolment will largely be confined to those with purchasing power. With parents and students getting more professionally designed educational packages, the competitiveness of existing institutions will face a hard test,” he said.
Quality of education
Pointing out that ‘knowledge economy’ would not come into effect through a Government Order or mere rhetoric, academician R.V.G. Menon expressed doubts over the move to convert aided institutions into deemed-to-be universities.
“Most of them are profit-oriented and work on the self-financing principle by accepting contributions from students and more or less universally from job seekers. The government has no control over teacher appointment in aided institutions. It has become a general consensus in political circles that it is no evil. This is an outcome of privatisation,” he said.
Dr. Kuncheria P. Isaac, former Vice Chancellor of A.P.J Abdul Kalam Technological University, suggested that the government exercise necessary control over deemed-to-be universities in the aided sector while extending academic freedom to the institutions.
https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/MShareArticle?OrgId=GR99QODS8.1&imageview=0
No comments:
Post a Comment