EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF EDUCATION

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2552

ANSWERED ON 13.03.2013

EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF EDUCATION

2552 . Shri VIKRAMBHAI ARJANBHAI MAADAM

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the UGC has identified the universities and colleges for evaluating the quality of education being imparted on course level throughout the country;

(b) if so, the name of the colleges and universities identified, State-wise;

(c) whether the recognition is not granted without evaluating the level of courses in America and other developed countries whereas in India, recognition is being granted without making any evaluation in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and



(e) whether the Government has taken any concrete steps for educational infrastructure and other facilities and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) & (b): No, Madam. The selective evaluation of a few courses and institutions is not a solution for improving quality. Instead, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued regulations, namely the UGC (Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2012 which make the evaluation of academic quality mandatory through the process of accreditation by independent agencies.

(c)& (d) : It is true that accreditation was optional in India till now and institutions were getting recognition/approval/affiliation without getting accredited. However, with the UGC notifying the above regulations, the accreditation has become compulsory for all higher educational institutions (with more than six years of existence) other than technical educational institutions. The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has approved similar regulations for technical institutions in its meeting held on 14.02.2013.

(e): During the XIth Five Year Plan, the Central Government had laid emphasis on the expansion of educational infrastructure. Ninteen new Central Universities (including State Universities converted into Central Universities) have been established during the plan period. Eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Seven new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and ten new National Institutes of Technology (NITs) have been set up. A scheme for assisting the State Universities/State Governments for establishing a model college in the districts which have a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) lower than the national level, was also implemented and 45 model degree colleges were set up. The Central Government also supported the states in setting up 279 Government Polytechnics during the XIth plan period. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely “National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology” was also implemented to improve the Information Technology infrastructure in Universities and Colleges.

The UGC under its various schemes releases grants to universities and colleges to improve access and quality of higher education. The UGC has reported that it implements various schemes for improving quality of higher education, such as Universities with Potential for Excellence (UPE), Colleges with Potential for Excellence

(CPE), Special Assistance Programme (SAP), Assistance for Strengthening of Infrastructure for Science and Technology (ASIST), Assistance for Strengthening of Infrastructure for Humanities and Social Sciences, etc. 

Source: Lok Sabha http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=136703