Why is it in the news?
- Recently, the Parliament Standing Committee on Education tabled a report during the special session of Parliament on the “Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in Higher Education.”
Key findings of the Report
- 70% of universities in India operate under the State Act.
- 94% of students are enrolled in State or private institutions, with only 6% in Central higher educational institutions.
- Issues discussed included rigid discipline separation, limited access in disadvantaged areas, lack of local language instruction, faculty shortage, lack of institutional autonomy, low research emphasis, ineffective regulation, and low undergraduate education standards.
- The panel proposed that by 2030, every district should have at least one multidisciplinary higher education institution.
- It also recommended increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035.
Recommendations
- Allocate suitable funds for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) in education.
- Set clear targets for higher Gross Enrolment Ratio for SEDGs.
- Enhance gender balance in admissions.
- Provide more financial assistance and scholarships for SEDGs in both public and private institutions.
- Make admission processes and curriculum more inclusive.
- Increase employability potential of higher education programs.
- Develop more degree courses taught in regional languages and bilingually.
- Take infrastructural steps to assist physically challenged students.
- Enforce no-discrimination and anti-harassment rules strictly.
Special Mention
- Appreciation for the implementation of NEP in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in a paradigm shift in teaching methods.
- Recommendation to improve the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) by diversifying funding sources and adjusting interest rates on loans.
- Concerns about the feasibility of implementing the multiple entry and multiple exit (MEME) system due to unpredictability in student movement, potentially affecting pupil-teacher ratios.
