VC meet highlights higher education lacunae

There is a stark difference between the hype around higher education and the real picture as most of the universities in India are facing challenges of shortage of quality teachers, lack of funds, obsolete curriculum and wrong government policies, vice chancellors of various universities pointed out at the two-day 'East Zone Vice Chancellors' Conference' that began at KIIT University here on Friday. Some 30 vice chancellors from universities of eastern India participated in the conference, organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Expressing concern about higher education, AIU president P T Chande said, "Around 50% posts are vacant in universities and colleges across the country, while a large number of teachers are quitting jobs due to faulty government policies. Most of the universities lack quality teachers, thanks to the faulty selection procedures."

Pointing out the limitations of selection procedures of teachers like NET (National Eligibility Test) and SAT, Chande said, "Teachers are not a manufacturing community and it involves interaction between students and teachers for a better teaching-learning process. NET and SAT only tests the brilliance of candidates but their communication abilities should also be tested."

The vice chancellors further alleged that the Centre is showing a step-motherly attitude towards state universities and not providing adequate funds. They also demanded the withdrawal of clause 12B in the UGC Act that prescribes certain standards for universities for being eligible for funds. "There are a large number of new universities facing some teething troubles. The UGC should provide a timeframe so that they can prepare themselves as per the norms. We cannot kill the universities without allowing them to grow," Chande said.

Raising question over the functioning of different regulatory bodies like the UGC, the AICTE and the MCI, Chande pointed out, "These bodies are stifling the growth of education under the guise of regulating institutions without giving functional freedom."

Also raising questions about the benefits of the proposed foreign university bill, Chande said, "Foreign university bill is a serious challenge for India's higher education sector. We are indirectly inviting foreigners to invade our county intellectually. Before allowing them to open their shops here we must improve the quality of our institutes so that we can compete with them."

Inaugurating the conference, state higher education minister Badri Narayan Patra said, "I hope the two-day deliberation will come out with a good number of recommendations for the government to work upon. The input of academicians is required more than that of politicians to form successful policies in the education sector."

UGC member and founder of KIIT University, Achyuta Samanta said, "It is a platform to discuss issues of higher education and the problems faced by various universities. The meeting will also play a catalytic role in forming policies for higher education."