HRD to bring major bills for reforms in higher education

Updated on: Friday, September 11, 2009

New Delhi:HRD Ministry will introduce in Parliament three major bills, including one for setting up an overarching body replacing the existing regulatory authorities.

The ministry has circulated a draft cabinet note for creation of National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER), HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here today.

'We want to get the Cabinet approval soon so that we can introduce the bill in the coming session,' he said while announcing the progress in the 100-day agenda of the ministry.

The proposed NCHER will replace UGC, AICTE, DCE and NCTE and act as an apex body for higher education and research. The concept of NCHER has already got support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The ministry has prepared another bill for entry of foreign education providers into the country. The bill, which has been sent to the Cabinet, seeks to allow entry of foreign universities and ensure that these institutions offer quality education to students in India.

For checking malpractices in higher education, the HRD Ministry has prepared a separate bill. The ministry has set up a task force to take forward the process in setting up of NCHER Sibal said. The task force will coordinate between the state governments and other agencies in this matter.

Besides, the ministry has prepared a few other bills providing for having educational tribunals for redressal of disputes and setting up of accreditation body for higher
education.

As many as 374 model degree colleges would be set up in the country for which approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has been taken, Sibal said.

The government has started a review of the standards of the deemed universities. The committee reviewing the functioning of the institutions is expected to submit its report by September end.

'The committee will study the functioning of private and government-run deemed universities. We will put out the video-graphed material on the entire process of inspection,' he said. There are 129 deemed universities in the country, including around 100 in private sector.
The government would offer remedial coaching for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and minority children whose level of competence is not at par with their general counterparts in higher education.

The ministry has identified four institutions which will offer such remedial coaching. Each institution has been given Rs five crore, he said.

HRD to bring major bills for reforms in higher education

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