Page 33 - Tehelka Issue 15 August 2018

education

• independence prime The UGC had often prevented the direct interference of governments in educational institutions

aims to establish a tiered system of The funding and academic decision- The UGC had often prevented the
higher education with a class division: making should be done by an autono- direct interference of governments
the first tier for the elite, the second mous body on the basis of academic in educational institutions but when
for the middle class and the third for criteria, and it should be at an arm’s institutional heads feel that funding is
the masses. If implemented we would length of any political institution. The under the direct control of the Ministry,
have ‘world-class’ universities with full current reform is an attempt to further they will be forced to carry out what is
autonomy and exorbitant fees but also exonerate the State from its financial said to them even informally. India is
a sea of common students in the third responsibility towards higher educa- a vast country and our socio-political
tier having no recognition from the tion. Whereas, the need of the hour is a dynamics varies from state to state.
government. It is unclear how the uni- meaningful reform of higher education The government can create a body like
versities are going to function in the ab- that can address concerns of access, eq- HECI but the situation should allow
sence of the UGC. We don’t know about uity and affordability. It will further en- those norms, should see the diversity
how institutes will get their funds, and visage the creation of autonomous col- and variation and whether they can
to whom will they be affiliated. In ab- leges which would have considerable help the state situation. The reforms in
sence of the government’s intervention, freedom in the matter of admissions, higher education have to respond to the
they are likely to be dependent on cro- syllabus and the fees. This will advance need of affordability, accessibility, qual-
ny capitalists for funding. It will lead to the racket of “self-financing profession- ity and must respond to social responsi-
more control of higher education being al colleges” with their “management bility of providing education to all.
handed over to the political-corporate quotas” to the higher education sector
nexus. as a whole. letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 august 2018 33 www.Tehelka.com