The Chandigarh Administration has pushed for creation of incubation centres in higher educational institutions, paperless examination system, creation of endowment fund, base line assessment of existing educational colleges before introduction of multidisciplinary B.Ed. programme among other recommendations in the national education policy (NEP) 2019.
In response to the suggestions sought by Union Ministry of Human Resource Development regarding draft national education policy 2019, the Chandigarh Administration has submitted its recommendations last week after the approval of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore.
In its communiqué to the HRD, the Chandigarh Administration while making comments on draft policy for higher education system in the country has suggested that a National Leadership Training Institute for Higher Education should be set up for achieving the desired goals and ensure the capability of teachers in higher educational institutions (HEIs).
One of the key recommendations of Administration is revamping the examination process in HEIs into a complete paperless system using latest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) methods besides constituting a National Examination Reform Council (NERC) for working on examination and testing quality reforms.
Raising objection to the NEP’s proposal of transitioning to four-year multidisciplinary B.Ed. programme for weeding out substandard teacher training colleges, the UT Administration has stated that rigorous monitoring of teacher education is required but closure or merger of TEIs (teacher training institutions) into multidisciplinary institutions is not a solution.
“Every existing teacher education institution cannot be converted into multidisciplinary higher education institutions. If these colleges are directed to be multi-disciplinary, there may be serious issues of resources both finances and human resources. In such a situation it may be better to do base line assessment of existing education colleges and those acquiring a minimum score lower than the minimum bench mark may be closed,” the Administration has suggested.
“Also, the students should not be forced to decide at plus two level (XII class), as some decide at very later stage to become teachers,” it further stated in its communique.
The Administration has also recommended that a National Testing Agency should be setup to maintain excellence in HEI in the country.On the proposal of constituting a Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog with representation from various fields, the Administration has suggested that proportionate representation of academician amongst the School education, College and University should be given in the Aayog.
“The Principal in seniority or rotation for discharging leadership positions if replaced by identification of an education bureaucracy will be disastrous for administrative and academic functioning,” the UT Administration has said while commenting on the membership proposal of RSA in NEP 2019.
When contacted, UT Education Secretary BL Sharma said that the Administration has submitted its recommendations on NEP 2019 to the HRD and focused on the use of latest ICT methods to improve education system.
“The recommendations have been sent after holding discussions with various colleges in the union territory of Chandigarh,” he said.
Commenting on institutional autonomy for recruitment in NEP 2019, the Administration has proposed that individual institutions having achieved certain prescribed benchmarks, particularly in respect of state and union territory owned institutions, should be empowered for institutional recruitment. It also suggested a decentralised recruitment policy for timely regular recruitments to be made by the respective states and union territories.
Creation of an endowment fund for funding research projects in HEIs has also been proposed by the UT Administration. Endowment fund would be generated by donations from alumni, business or industrial establishments among other organizations, thereby creating a pool of funds that the institution can use for research, scholarships, enables faculty and students to conduct innovative studies, explore new academic fields, apply new technologies, the UT Administration said.
It has also suggested developing a mechanism to share outcomes of research undertaken by HEIs to industry in the form of transfer of resultant technology and ensure employment of concerned researcher students in similar projects of the industry.
For energizing the faculty and their performance management in colleges and Universities, the UT has recommended at least three months’ orientation programme of the new faculty before joining the institution, 7-10 days compulsory in-service residential training programmes for existing faculty in a phased manner in collaboration with institutions of national importance and exposure to international standards and practices in collaboration with foreign Institutes of eminence to outstanding teachers.
Recommending setting up of incubation centres in all HEIs, the Administration has stated that it will provide environment for support to start-ups by students and alumni.
