SUMMARY - The autonomy of individual universities to frame curricula and design courses has not been diluted by the UGC scheme of Curriculum Development,
- Universities have full freedom to either
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adopt or adapt the model curricula prepared by UGC.
No.206
2.19 The NPE-RC has recommended that UGC should conduct a study to ascertain the extent to which the conditions attached to Pay Revision Scheme have been fulfilled. This is not a recommendation relating to Policy Review.
2.20 The Scheme for revision of pay scales of University/College teachers and other measures for maintenance of standards in higher education announced by the Government of India in June, 1987 (partially amended in July, 1988) has been adopted by all State Governments for implementation in State Universities/ Colleges. All the Central Universities have also implemented the Scheme. The UGC and the Ministry are keeping vigil on the implementation of the Scheme. The copies of notifications issued by the State Governments have also been received and scrutinised in the Ministry.
SUMMARY - This is not a recommendation relating to Policy Review.
- The Scheme has been implemented in Central Universities also.
- The UGC and Ministry keep vigil on the implementation of the Scheme by State Governments and Central Universities.
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NO.207.
2.21 The NPE-RC has recommended pre-induction training of teachers for one year after recruitment for enhancing the quality of teachers in the University system. The National Policy on Education had laid emphasis on orientation of teachers# both at the beginning of service and at subsequent intervals. In pursuance of NPE, UGC has set up 48 Academic Staff Colleges in different parts of the country to organise orientation programmes for newly appointed Lecturers and reorientation courses for in-service teachers in Universities and Colleges. The quality of newly appointed lecturers is also being ensured by prescribing an all India qualifying test. The proposal of long-term pre-induction training for University and College teachers has generally not found support as continuous training is now being considered more relevant than pre-induction training, "early 20,000 teachers have already received training at Academic Staff Colleges. UGC had recently appointed an Expert Committee to review the performance of Academic Staff Colleges and the Review Committee has found that, by and large, the Staff Colleges have served a useful purpose in orientation and training of College teachers. UGC has decided to continue and expand the scheme to more Universities during the Eighth Five Year Plan. Training facilities for College and University teachers are spread all over the country and fairly decentralised, it wills however, be difficult to provide such facilities in each University because of constraint of financial and manpower resources.
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SUMMARY - UGC has set up 48 Academic Staff Colleges for orientation training of newly appointed teachers. Refresher courses also conducted by Staff Colleges.
- Periodic in-service training considered more relevant than long-term pre-induction training.
- Quality of newly appointed Lecturers ensured by all-India qualifying examinations.
- Training facilities are fairly decentralised at present and it would be difficult to provide for training facilities in each University.
Nos.208-to 213:
2.22 The NPE-RC has emphasised the need for research in selected areas consistent with national needs and priorities. The National Policy on Education had also provided for pooling of resources among research institutions to participate in projects of national importance. The National Policy also referred to the need of developing new indigenous technology and orienting research to enhance production and productivity. The recommendation to link research with development needs of the country has become all the more relevant in the present difficult economic situation.
2.23 UGC has given substantial financial assistance to selected University Departments for advanced research.
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It would be desirable for such Departments to re-orient their priorities in accordance with national development needs. In recent years, UGC has taken lead in setting up Inter University Centres to provide common research facilities to University scholars. It may not, however, be possible, mainly because of constraint of resources, to set up separate Centres of Excellence for research in educational institutions. Several Science and Technology Departments of Government support research project in Universities but as these Departments have their own priorities and their own fields of research, it would be difficult to make it obligatory for them to allocate certain percentage of their resources to Universities for research.
2.24 The recommendation of NPE-RC to develop a few undergraduate institutions for imparting instructions of highest quality by special assistance is under consideration of UGC who propose to give special asssistance to some undergraduate Colleges in different parts of the country and develop them as Centres of academic Excellence.
SUMMARY - NPERC has rightly emphasised the need to orient research in accordance with national needs and priorities.
- NPE also prescribed emphasis on research to enhance production and productivity . UGC gives financial assistance to selected Departments for advanced research. Difficult to set up separate Centres for
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Excellence in research in educational institutions due to constraint of funds.
- UGC propose to give special assistance to selected undergraduate Colleges to achieve academic excellence.
No.214
2.25 The NPE-RC has recommended that Universities should involve themselves in development issues and become instrument for development of their respective regions. For this purpose, courses in universities and Colleges should be re-designed and teachers and students should have more active participation in development programmes. The National Policy on Education had also emphasised the role of higher education in national development through dissemination of knowledge and skills. University and College students, under the existing system, get exposure to development work through NCC. National Service Scheme and Adult and Population Education programmes. The National Policy on Education emphasised the need for strengthening NSS and for providing opportunities to students to involve themselves in national and social development through educational institutions. In the UGC programme of restructuring of courses and revision of curricula during the revised Eighth Five Year Plan, special attention will need to the given to linking academic programmes with development needs of the country,
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SUMMARY - NPERC has recommended re-designing of courses to achieve active involvement of Universities in development process.
- NPE also emphasised role of higher education in national development.
- NPE highlighted improtance of extension activities like NSS, NCC and adult education programme.
- UGC to give special attention to linking academic programmes with development needs of the country.
No.215
2.26 While accepting the need for a National Testing Service (NTS), the NPE-RC has recommended that the NTs need not be a body for conduct of tests in a centralised way. The recommendation further state that the NTS need only be a development agency engaged in research and performing certain service functions such as building models for tests, test development and test administration.
2.27 The NPE and POA visualise the establishment of a National Testing Service. As per the detailed project report for setting up the NTS, the major functions of the NT would include conducting of tests on a voluntary basis to determine the eligibility of candidates for jobs which do not require a degree or diploma level qualification. It would also make available its expertise and capabilities to academic
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institutions for holding entrance/admission tests for higher courses, to function as a well-equipped resource centre at the national level for test development, test administration, test scoring, etc.
2.28 Unless the NTS actually undertakes the conduct of tests, the Organisation cannot function as a competent resource centre for research and development and for performing the service functions to other agencies, as envisaged in the NPE-RC recommendation. Any meaningful research and development programme would have to be linked to the activity of conducting tests. It is therefore not desirable to de-limit the scope of activities of NTS and confine it to a purely research organisation.
SUMMARY - The NPE-RC has accepted the need for a National Testing Service.
- It is essential that the NTS should also undertake, on voluntary basis, the actual conduct of tests for user agencies, as otherwise it cannot effectively function as a resource centre for testing.
No.216 & 217
2.29 National Policy on Education, 1986 envisaged that the new pattern of rural universities will be consolidated and developed on the lines of Gandhiji's ideas on education so as to take up challenges of
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micro-planning at grass-root levels for the transformation of rural areas. Institutions and programmes on Gandhian basic education will be supported. For this purpose, a Central Council of Rural Institutes was to be set up.
2.30 We are not in favour of accepting the recommendation of Ramamurti Committee that rural universities and institutes should be brought under the umbrella of State Councils of Higher Education and UGC for the following reasons:-
(i) Only one State has so far set up State Council of Higher Education. Even if more Councils are set up, their main focus would remain on conventional system of higher education.
(ii) Because of the rapid growth of the conventional system, UGC has not been able to give adequate attention or necessary encouragement to the development of rural universities. It will be difficult for UGC to change its priorities in favour of rural institutions.
(iii) Many rural institutes provide integrated education including education at school level* Many institutes are not affiliated to universities system. Such institutes, therefore, do not come with the purview of UGC and a separate body like the Central Council is required to promote their activities.
(iv) The proposed Central Council will also initiate and encourage setting up of new rural institutes. UGC cannot perform this function.
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SUMMARY - A Central Council of Rural Institutes is essential to encourage development of rural educational institutions on Gandhian lines. Many rural educational institutions do not come within the purview of UGC which is otherwise also preoccupied with the problems of conventional university system.
No.218
2.31 NPE-RC has recommended that agricultural universities should diversify their educational programmes and also involve themselves in areas of rural development other than agriculture. It is understood that agricultural universities are now involving themselves in subjects like forestry, poultry and animal husbandry, sericulture, etc. which are related to agriculture. Ministry of Agriculture has, however, been requested to examine the recommendation. It may be added that the National Policy on Education did not cover agriculture or medical education.
SUMMARY - Agricultural Universities are diversifying in areas of rural development. National Policy on Education did not cover agriculture or medical education.
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No.219
2.32 The Ramamurti Committee has recommended that it is not necessary to have National Apex Body like National Council on Higher Education to bring about coordination among University Grants Commission and other national level institutions concerned with higher education* The Committee has recommended that the purpose of coordination can be achieve by having a Council of Ministers and a Council of Secretaries dealing with subjects related with higher education. 2.33 The National Policy on Education, 1986 envisages establishment of a National Apex Body for bringing about greater coordination and integration in the planning and development of the entire Higher Education system, including research. Accordingly, a proposal to establish National Council on Higher Education (NCHE) as a three-tier body to be set up through a Government Resolution was prepared some time back. However, there were certain reservations in the concerned Ministries like Agriculture and Health, Planning Commission and UGC to the proposal. The Planning Commission felt that the proposed National Council may not be able to deal effectively with statutory bodies like UGC, AICTE, MCI, etc. Chairman, UGC felt that either the National Council should be a statutory body or in the alternative UGC should be conferred with powers and functions of the proposed National Council. However, other agencies like Ministries of Agriculture and Health were not willing to accept this proposal as they apprehended erosion of their autonomy.
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2.34 While the need for achieving coordination among various institutions dealing with Higher Education has been recognised by all, there is no agreement as to the nature of institution which should be set up to achieve this objective. The statutory mechanism does not seem to be acceptable and a non-statutory organization is not expected to nave sufficient authority to achieve the objective.
SUMMARY - NPERC states that National Council on Higher Education is not necessary. Coordination can be achieved by a Council of Ministers and a Council of Secretaries dealing with different aspects of higher education.
- NPE envisages setting up of National Council on Higher Education. Consider able difference of opinion as to whether the Council should be a statutory body or a non-statutory body set up by a Goverment Resolution.
- While there is general acceptance of the need for coordination, there is no agreement on the nature of mechanism to achieve the objective.
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No.220
2. 35 The Committee has urged for an early decision by Government on the recommendation of Law Commission regarding tribunalisation of justice in centres of higher education. While the recommendation of the Law Commission in this regard is still under examination by the Ministry in consultation with the UGC, the following recommendation has been made by a Committee of Chief Justices of High Courts set up by Government in January, 1989:-
"The existing laws already provided exclusive forums for the resolution of disputs relating to discipline and service conditions of a class of employees in the field of education. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 is one of such laws to which resort can be had by a person who is covered by the expression "workman". The Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 and the Administrative Tribunals thereunder could provide yet another exclusive remedy in service matters to the teaching and non-teaching employees of the University, provided the appropriate Government issues a notification applying the relevant provisions of Section 14 or Section 15, as the case may be, to the Universities.Disputes of other nature involving Universities and other centres of higher education do not require specialised attention. The Committee does not agree with the view that these matters
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cannot be satisfactorily dealt with for want of requisite expertise or otherwise in regular forums. The law establishing a separate forum to deal with all disputes involving Universities and other centres of higher education would not be able to provide for the exclusion of the writ jurisdiction. Article 323-A cannot be invoked except in respect of service matters. Article 323-B cannot also be resorted to because it does not authorise the appropriate legislature by law to provide for adjudication of any dispute concerning education or involving education institution. Unless articles 226 and 227 are amended, the writ jurisdiction cannot be excluded. The Committee is not in favour of such amendment.
The establishment of the three tier machinery recommended in the 122nd Report of the Law Commission may, at best, enable the flow of writ petitions being checked by insistence on the requirement of exhaustion of the alternative remedy."
2.36 It will be seen that the Recommendation of the Chief Justices Committee is by and large against the tribunalisation of justice in the university system. However, the UGC is considering the matter in all its aspects before formulating its views.
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