Education panel draft Bill ready

To ensure quality education, the government is planning to make accreditation compulsory for all institutions of higher education.

To ensure quality education, the government is planning to make accreditation compulsory for all institutions of higher education.

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An overarching body, the National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER), will prescribe quality controls and set out rules for the selection of vice-chancellors.

The human resource development ministry on Monday revealed details of the draft bill on the commission that will replace bodies like the University Grants commission, All India Council of Technical Education and National Council of Teachers Education.

According to the draft Bill, the commission will specify norms and standards for grant of authorisation to a university or a higher educational institution before it can begin operations.

It will maintain a national registry with names of eligible persons for the post of vice-chancellors. When needed, it will suggest five names.

An attempt has been made to make the process of authorisation transparent. Within 30 days of receiving an application, the commission will have to declare its intent to grant authorisation. It will then issue a public notice on its website, inviting comments and objections.

Within four months of receiving the application, the commission will issue authorisation. It will have to give in writing the reasons for turning down an application.

The panel is expected to develop a national curriculum framework on emerging or inter-disciplinary fields and guide universities in revising curriculum.