At last, the Union Human Resource Ministry has decided to act against the Deemed-to-be-Universities (DUs) that have not met the prescribed standards and norms. It has informed the Supreme Court that 44 DUs stand to lose the status in the light of the findings of the committee headed by P.N. Tandon that went into the functioning of the 126 DUs across the country. They were found to suffer from serious deficiencies and aberrations, with many of them being run as family enterprises. In the case of another 44 DUs, which do not face imminent de-recognition, notices will be issued requiring them to rectify the defects perceived in their organisation, infrastructure, or management. Tamil Nadu has the dubious distinction of hosting as many as 16 of the DUs to be divested of the recognition. Many of the delinquent institutions started, initially, as medical or engineering colleges and then launched arts and science colleges to boost their overall student strength and ultimately get the ‘university’ tag of the ‘deemed’ variety. Flawed, if not dubious, management practices and admission of students beyond the limit determined by the norms seem to be the two major factors that invited de-recognition.
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has held out the assurance that the two lakh students in these DUs will not be adversely affected and they will be able to get their degrees. The Ministry has said these institutions will be re-affiliated to their respective universities. It is for the government to ensure that the transition process is swift and smooth. Ever since Mr. Sibal took over, there have been serious moves to stem the rot in the higher education sector. Over the past decade, there had been a proliferation of deemed universities, mostly in the southern States, thanks to the clamour for the DU tag that gave managements a great deal of functional autonomy. These DUs even succeeded in persuading the government and the University Grants Commission to let them drop the appellation ‘deemed’ and call themselves ‘universities’. Now, the report of the Tandon committee and the United Progressive Government’s favourable response to it hold the promise of a salutary change in the situation. The HRD Ministry needs to go far beyond the de-recognition move and bring about systemic changes in professional education. For instance, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is crying for an overhaul in its functioning, especially in the sanctioning procedures and norms applicable for engineering colleges. On the medical education front, there is a strong and urgent case for expansion so as to keep pace with health care needs of the community.
Correction
The above Editorial "A step in the right direction" said the Union Human Resource Ministry had decided to act against the Deemed-tobe Universities that have not met the prescribed standards and norms. It should have been the Union Human Resource Development Ministry.
Comments:
A wonderful editorial. It should also express the concern of students like us learning in Deemed university.Why media is giving less attention to faculty shortage and lack of research facility in Deemed University? We pay for them but they don't care about expanding the lab facilities. They always speak about placements.
The 44 Deemed-to-be-Universities which face derecognition because they were 'found to suffer from serious deficiencies and aberrations with many of them being run as family enterprises' are, to say the least, getting off very lightly with only a light rap on the knuckles, what with the Ministry deciding to reaffiliate them to the parent universities. The managements of these 'degree factories' will continue to run them as family enterprises albeit with less freedom. But then these families certainly know all the tricks of how to overcome all the hurdles that they may face. In all fairness the Ministry should penalise these errant managements with such a hefty fine as to serve as a warning and deterrent to such ventures in future. Incidentally one wonders how these factories passed regular inspections of the authorities.
This move by the government will help to sort out the flaws in our education system. Strict action has to be taken aganist the people who run substandard institutions to increase the size of their pockets at the cost of lakhs of students who dreams of great future. More actions have to be taken to ensure that our education system is on a par with global standard.
It is a pity that education system, especially higher education, is in a state of utter chaos. Higher education is 100% commercialised today and as a result there is absolutely room for merit in the admission process. Money can buy degrees. What is the big point in claiming ourselves to be a country with a vast technical manpower, if quality is on the backfoot? Think of common man. He can not afford quality education to his children. He goes for a loan and this ruins his life. Most MLAs and MPs own one or more professional colleges. What is this business all about? Who created this mess? I strongly believe that the Governments (at the centre and in the states) have clearly messed up the whole scenario of higher education. Ultimately, as in every other issue, the poor common man is the victim of all these illconceived policies. But unfortunately, he is helpless. Kudos to HRD minister. Keep the common man in mind while formulating policies.
HRD ministry must be thanked for taking the bold step. Considering the political links that all the DU managements have, it remains to be seen if they will soften their stand and undo the punishment to these black marketeers of education. Also, it should not be forgotten that just like the students, the staff and faculty members (including myself)of these institutions are also victims of malpractices of the management. They should not be seen in the same light as the perpetrators of these crimes. It is in fact, adding insult to our injury.
Wonderful move by HRD Minister. Unlike his former counterpart Mr.Sibal seems to have profound knowledge of where the flaw exists. There have been swift moves by Mr.Sibal but with utmost care and foresight. I hope in near future we will get to see many developements on the research and developement front which will take us one level ahead in the international fora.
This is a wrong move and a wrong way to have a control on them . Govt. should have made rules tougher and straight. This sudden announcement will only make things difficult for students who, after getting a degree from any of these blacklisted universities, will have a tough time getting into a company for a job. Will any company entertain them? This is a matter to be taken seriously. A wrong move.
India definitely needs world class universities. Quantity must be considered but quality is more important.
A very well intended move by the Ministry. Taking Tamil Nadu as an example to illustrate, in the last 15 years or so, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of engineering colleges. A number of them are owned by cine artists or politicians. It is a sad reality that starting a college is far more easier and extremely lucrative than venturing into any other discipline or business. Unless education through colleges and universities is viewed as knowledge imparting rather than a mere tool to seek a job or self-acclaim to be a graduate, there will be more ignorant young people wasting their time and money in some not-fit-for-purpose institutions.
While commending the efforts of Mr.Sibal for taking action against the Doomed University, it is also imperative for Mr. Sibal to take cognizance of the flaws in the regulatory bodies which grant approval to these universities. Overhauling of the regulating body and crackdown on Deemed universities should go hand in hand, such that a proper education system is in place.
Amazing!! It took 126 delinquents and several years for the Issue to be substantive enough for Goverments consideration.
Indeed a wonderful editorial. The HRD ministry's move should be lauded. It is to be kept in mind that mushrooming of such centers of learning undermines the prestige of Indian education system and the editorial rightly points out that systemic changes must be carried out to cleanse our education sector of this malaise. In this connection I wish to draw your attention to the Prof.Yash Pal commission's recommendation to create a constitutional body for education, like the election commission as a lasting solution to rid the sector of political interference that in my view is the root cause of all this.
Although this belated action needs all praise the future of the hapless students undergoing their courses now and those who are having certificates from these universities are left with a stigma. As such Govt. of India and the HRD ministry should take steps to speed up the process of not only affiliating these institutions with recognised varsities but also take steps to issue fresh certificates to those who gained their degrees from these institutions.
Government has opened its eyes. Really they were not aware of the situation of technical education in Indian deemed universities. I am also doing B Tech final year, I have also suffered a lot from the lack of practical laboratories and faculty.
I appreciate the decision taken. That is because I have seen the terrible ways in which those so called 'Deemed Universities' function. Be it the overwhelming amount of fees they levy upon the students or the number of seats 'sold' in the name of 'Donation Seats', either way which means unequal opportunities to the rich and the poor. That is not the only problem, as mentioned above, there is also the issue of infrastructure maintainance, course management and faculty.
They have given recognition to some of these universities in 2008 and within a year they find that these are not fit for universities. The same central government gives recognition and takes it back. Is it not a foul play? Why they did not inspect them before accrediting them? If they punish these institutions, Would not they have to punish the errant officials also? About strong medical college foundations. It is also not true. We heard, during inspection some medical colleges convert office premises into wards and beds. Also they bring poor people from their locality and falsely admit them and give them money and biriyani for the day of stay during inspection. Did not the inspecting official turn a blind eye? Corruption is our way of life. Long live our education system.
This is the right step taken by the HRD Ministry. Today universities are shifting from deemed to doomed. I request the HRD Ministry also to take such steps at the primary, secondary , and senior secondary level particularly in govt. schools where teachers have no accountability.
While this is undoubtedly a welcome step, the question that remains unanswered is how did these colleges/universities get a Deemed University status at the first place? Who were the people involved in rolling out Deemed university status to more than 80 colleges within a period of 5 years? The silence over these questions, shows the possibility of involvement of officials of the Union HRD Ministry in the matter. This matter should be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should be booked under the law.
Ensuring correct norms and standards should go hand in hand with a transparent implementation process of ensuring that the students are not tossed around between the collge, the local university and the ministries. Students are naturally worried about their future in the midst of this messy business called higher education in India..
Well done, Mr Kapil Sibal. You have done a great service to the students and their parents of Tamil Nadu.
It is common knowledge that a former HRD Minister of the Centre was responsible in many ways for the current mess in the field of higher education. The politicians of Tamil Nadu, in particular, thought educational institutions with a tag of Deemed University would be gold mines for generations. A proper CBI enquiry should be ordered into the affair to bring all those connected with the scam to justice.
My brother is studying BE in one of the deened varsities. HDFC refused to provide further education loan for the coming year. Govt should look into this issue. There are many students studying in deemed universities and most of them by education loan. This issue should not affect their further studies.