Centre set to Revamp the Higher Education System in India
University Grants Commission (UGC) which had been a central institution from 1951 to look after the higher education by granting affiliations and funding and regulating any discrepancies in colleges and varsities across India will be soon replaced by a new central institution the Higher Education Council of India (HECI).
The Central Govt. is all set to repeal the UGC Act, 1951 and introduce a new legislation on HECI this monsoon session which is due to start from July 18 and continue till August 10.
According to the details available, this new HECI Act of 2018 will focus on effective regulations for academic standards and improve the quality of the higher education like that of its predecessor, however, has been curtailed of all the Administrative and Financial Grant giving privilege which UGC had. The ministry of Human Resource Development will have the power to award grants.
To ensure that the quality of the education is maintained HECI will be equipped with punitive powers to order the closure of fake and norm-violating institutions, impose fines and penalties and also has provisions for imprisonment up to three years where necessary.
Initially, both All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) were supposed to merge with HECI, however, it was flagged due to functional difficulties. According to the new decision, both AICTE and NCTE Act will be revised and aligned to the new HECI Act of 2018.
With the establishment of HECI provide more autonomy to the functioning institutions under it and bring in disclosure-based regulatory regime and powers of enforcement of regulations. An immense focus will be on improving learning outcomes evaluation of academic performance by institutions, mentoring of institutions, training of teachers, use of technology, etc.
The legislation also recommends to set up an advisory council with the HRD minister, Higher Education Secretary, state higher education council heads and noted academic experts to advise the Higher Education Regulatory Council (HERC) on important matters every six months.