New Delhi: The ministry of human resource development has made an amendment in the draft bill of Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) that transferred grant functions to the HRD department.
The amendment proposes to create an independent body of experts, which will keep political influence at bay. The government is likely to table the amended bill in the monsoon session of Parliament that begins on Wednesday.
There have been other amendments as well after the vehement criticism received from states and teachers organisations on grounds of politicisation of higher education.
On June 28, the ministry repealed the UGC Act 1956 and announced its decision to replace the University Grants Commission with the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). The bill is open for feedback from its stakeholders till July 20.
Further amendments in the draft bill scrap the provision of an advisory council, which was supposed to be chaired by the HRD minister. Now, the government is considering to involve bodies like Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) to communicate with the states.
Among other suggestions received, one was the appointment of HECI members. As per the first draft, the members of HECI would be appointed by a panel of secretaries to the government. Academicians opposed the new provision as according to them, it would have led to “bureaucratisation.”
Under strong criticism, the HRD Ministry has now said that the panel will consist of reputable academicians under the chairmanship of Cabinet secretary.
The government is also considering to amend authorisation provisions for universities by which, only the new ones will be required to approach the HECI for their authorisation.
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