Education experts have asked the Centre to re-examine its proposal to ease the norms for granting funds to the higher learning centres, including universities and deemed universities as it could deteriorate the higher education system further. The Human Resource Development Ministry has recently in its directive said that the 12 (B) status would be eased for granting funds.This status is given to the universities by University Grants Commission (UGC) for granting funds.
The status is given if the university fulfills certain parameters prescribed by the UGC. The parameters include proper infrastructure, maintenance of student-teacher ratio, qualified faculty, laboratories and others. As a convention, the UGC does not grant funds for research and development activities to those universities that do not fulfill the criteria. Educationists from the State argue that not a single university across the nation including national and State was among the top 100 universities in the world and easing the norms further would surely damage the repute of such institutions.
Vinod Pavarala from University of Hyderabad said that allowing the under facilitated and low infrastructure universities to function would serve no purpose but waste of money. He said that this would go against the decision of the Central government in giving importance to higher education. He asked, “How can the Centre see positive change in higher education by easing the norms?” He said that without streamlining higher education, a nation’s development could not be discussed.
Goutham Murthy from OU said that it was not sure as to how the proposed one-time comfort would work to boost research in the universities. He opined that enhancing infrastructure and other pre-requisites must be the first priority of the Central government. Universities are rated and assessed only if they possess 12 (B) status issued by the UGC. National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) also conducts the assessments only for the varsities having 12 (B) status.
On the other hand, former UGC chairman R K Agarwal said that research activity in Indian higher learning institutions was very less compared to its other Asian counterparts. He said that he does not see any mistake in easing the 12 (B) status to varsities for research purpose. He said, “The Centre wants to ease it for only once and that is to support the varsities financially in good faith.”
Vinod Pavarala from University of Hyderabad said that allowing the under facilitated and low infrastructure universities to function would serve no purpose but waste of money. He said that this would go against the decision of the Central government in giving importance to higher education. He asked, “How can the Centre see positive change in higher education by easing the norms?” He said that without streamlining higher education, a nation’s development could not be discussed.
Goutham Murthy from OU said that it was not sure as to how the proposed one-time comfort would work to boost research in the universities. He opined that enhancing infrastructure and other pre-requisites must be the first priority of the Central government. Universities are rated and assessed only if they possess 12 (B) status issued by the UGC. National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) also conducts the assessments only for the varsities having 12 (B) status.
On the other hand, former UGC chairman R K Agarwal said that research activity in Indian higher learning institutions was very less compared to its other Asian counterparts. He said that he does not see any mistake in easing the 12 (B) status to varsities for research purpose. He said, “The Centre wants to ease it for only once and that is to support the varsities financially in good faith.”
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