National Education Commission to revise higher education curriculum

The NDA government will constitute a new panel 'National Education Commission', to revise higher education curriculum across the country, said UGC chairman Prof Ved Prakash.

In Lucknow, to inaugurate the academic session of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Prof Prakash said the existing higher education system is based on recommendations of the first and last education commission formed in 1964. "The challenges and issues in education today are different from what they were in 1964. We are trying to get a new commission in place," said Prof Prakash.

On the UGC having outsourced the National Eligibility Test (NET) to the CBSE, Prof Prakash said, "We will provide the expertise while the CBSE will only conduct the exam. The UGC is overburdened with responsibilities and it is more of a regulating body."

He also added, UGC was also making efforts to tackle the fee capitation. "We are revisiting the regulations made in 2009 and trying to get the government's approval in the parliament," said Prof Prakash. The SC had in September 2013 termed capitation fee "illegal and unethical".

According to him, the shortage of faculty in universities and colleges is due to the massive expansion of higher education institutions. The UGC is making efforts to combat the crisis, he added. Many states have gone for re-employment of retired teachers.

He also added, universities should start up specific courses related to pedagogy for masters level. "Students who wish to take up teaching as a profession can study these optional subjects to get conversant with pedagogy," said Prof Prakash, adding that research scholars can also be roped in for teaching.

The Centre is considering setting up of a state-level resource institute for assessment and accreditation, to boost quality of higher education. "Though no state has come forward so far, we are waiting for the proposals. We will provide the tools and academic support," said Prof Prakash, adding that multiple grading agencies, apart from NAAC, are needed to grade 673 universities and over 37,000 colleges spread across the country.