The Parliament Standing Committee on Education, headed by Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vivek Thakur, tabled a report during the special session of Parliament on the “Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in Higher Education.”
- The report investigates the implementation of the NEP in higher education.
- The report indicates there are 1,043 universities operating in the country.
- 70% of these universities are under the State Act.
- It underscores that 94% of students attend State or private institutions.
- Only 6% of students are enrolled in Central higher educational institutions.
- The report emphasises the crucial role of the State in delivering higher education.
Issues Discussed
- The panel discussed a range of issues affecting our education system.
- Some issues include: the strict division of academic disciplines, limited access to higher education in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, and a lack of universities teaching in local languages.
- Additional problems include a shortage of faculty members, lack of autonomy for institutions, inadequate emphasis on research, a flawed regulatory system, and low-quality undergraduate education.
- The panel proposed that by 2030, every district should have at least one multidisciplinary Higher Education Institution (HEI).
- They also suggested working towards increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education, including vocational education, from 26.3% in 2018 to 50% by 2035.
Recommendations
- The panel made several recommendations to both the Union and state Governments:
- Allocate funds specifically for the education of Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).
- Set ambitious targets to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio for SEDGs.
- Strive for greater gender balance in admissions to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
- Offer more financial assistance and scholarships to EDGs at both public and private HEIs.
- Make the admission process and curriculum more inclusive.
- Improve the employability potential of higher education programs.
- Develop more degree courses taught in regional languages and bilingually.
- Additional recommendations included:
- Implement specific infrastructure changes to aid physically challenged students.
- Enforce all non-discrimination and anti-harassment rules strictly.
Funding
- The committee proposed enhancements to the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) to make it more effective and impactful in financing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
- It advised HEFA to diversify its funding sources beyond just government allocations.
- The committee suggested seeking partnerships with entities such as private sector organisations, philanthropic foundations, and international financial institutions.
- A review and adjustment of the interest rates on loans offered by HEFA was recommended. The goal is to make these loans more competitive and affordable for HEIs.
Multiple Entry Multiple Exit Programme
- The panel highlighted potential challenges for Indian institutions in implementing the Multiple Entry Multiple Exit (MEmE) system.
- Despite Western educational institutions effectively utilising the MEmE system, the panel expressed doubts about its success in India.
- The implementation of the MEmE system could disrupt predictions concerning student enrolment and dropout rates.
- This unpredictability might ultimately hinder the maintenance of a balanced pupil-teacher ratio.