New Delhi, The Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI) - the nodal agency working for the promotion of quality education in India - held a series of consultative roundtables across the country in cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Pune and Bangalore, to increase awareness on the crucial role played by private unaided institutions in promoting the cause of learning and higher education. The role of Deemed to be Universities in providing access to higher education and enabling better employable skills among students as well as the recent policy change recommendations by the Government were also discussed. After these roundtables, the final Strategy Formulation by EPSI at the national level was declared today.
Dr G Viswanathan, President, EPSI and founder-Chancellor of VIT University, Vellore, said: "Given the constraints of infrastructure, capital and trained teachers in the education sector, the EPSI considers the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model best for the country. Deemed Universities and other private unaided institutions have been rendering yeoman service in imparting higher education to Indian students, despite various constraints. This is especially noteworthy given the inadequate infrastructure and shortage of trained teachers faced by educational institutions. Shortcomings in education can be rectified by consulting all stakeholders and the recommendations derived thereof could help the Government in arriving at policy decisions. Ad hoc decisions without consulting all stakeholders could jeopardise the future of lakhs of students and are best avoided."
While the EPSI has welcomed the Union Government efforts to reform the education sector, it urged transparency in action and consideration of views and concerns of all stakeholders before arriving at policy decisions. It pointed out that crucial decisions which do not take into account the overall education ecosystem will hurt the cause of education and prove counterproductive.
Taking all factors into account, the EPSI has come up with the following recommendations:
- A Constitutional authority in the form of a National Commission of Higher Education and Research to provide policy directions is a good decision.
- Regulating Councils should be under the supervision of the National Commission of Higher Education and Research and solely responsible for the execution, subject to relevant best practices.
- The issue of quality should be supervised and controlled by appropriate agencies - the NAAC, NBA et al. - and should not be within the purview of Regulatory Agencies.
- Funding and Universities administration should continue with UGC to ensure better control. Adhering to a holistic approach in the policy and its administration, these authorities should report to the National Commission of Higher Education and Research.
- If a new problem arises, it should be referred to a relevant Constitutional or Regulatory Authority within the system, rather than creating an ad hoc entity to resolve it.
The EPSI believes that with India on the road to attaining a leadership role in the global community of nations, it needs to position itself strategically in the education sector and frame a set of policies that fast-forward its systematic progress, while simultaneously overcoming financial, infrastructure and quality constraints. Given these shortcomings and the deep investments required in education, the PPP model is best suited to achieve India education goals in the shortest time frame.
Manohar Chellani, Secretary General, EPSI, said, "The EPSI represents the larger perspective of higher educational institutions and the common plea is for transparency in the overall process, so that conclusions derived thereby are unbiased and fair. We also urge State Governments to facilitate the creation of more Private State Universities and autonomous institutition to boost quality in higher education."
The EPSI noted that the Tandon Committee recommendations on Deemed Universities, although largely salutary, had alarmed sections of society, particularly the affected students, with some drastic suggestions. The EPSI therefore decided to put its viewpoint across in the cause of higher education and selectively support the Government in implementing requisite reforms.
The EPSI requests the Honble Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Honble Chairperson of the UPA Government Smt Sonia Gandhi, the Honble Minister of HRD Shri Kapil Sibal, and the Honble Chairman and Parliamentary Committee Member Shri Oscar Fernandes to intervene for the adoption of best practices and to promote the principles of natural justice. The EPSI deliberations were supported by Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of several leading Universities from different regions.
Reiterating the pivotal role of private unaided institutions in learning and higher education, the EPSI believes all stakeholders - private and public - should work in unison to take India educational system into the highest orbit, overcoming the paucity of skilled personnel in various sectors as well as creating a multi-skilled talent pool of global renown.
Notes to Editor
About EPSI:
The Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI) is an autonomous national body actively involved in the educational sector with a mandate for policy advocacy from universities and institutions across India. Manipal, VIT, NIIMS, JSS, BITS Pilani, IGNOU, Thapar, SRM, BIMTECH, Sharda and Manav Rachna are some of the universities represented in its managing committee. The EPSI acts as a Chamber for Education covering the entire educational space - school, vocational, higher and professional education - providing a platform for interface among all stakeholders: academia, industry and the government(s). Besides policy advocacy, the EPSI core activities include Accreditation, Certification, Assessments, Faculty Development Programmes, Research & Development, International Exchanges, and Consultancy, among others.
