Draft policy opens the door for foreign universities

The government on Wednesday invited public comments on the measures that the Ministry of Human Resource Development aims to take under its much-awaited New Education Policy. It has uploaded the Draft National Education Policy proposals through its citizen engagement platform MyGovIndia and the last date for inputs from the people is July 31.

The measures include setting up an Education Commission every five years, creation of an Indian Education Service, Central Educational Statistics Agency and reorienting the National Council of Educational Research and Training, apart from possible for a foreign university to offer its own degree to the Indian students studying in India.

While MyGovIndia has uploaded a 43-page draft ‘Some Inputs for Draft New Education Policy’, the TSR Subramaniam-led committee set up to formulate the policy had submitted a 230-page report to the Ministry.

Foreign universities Aiming for internationalisation of education, select foreign universities, from the top 200 in the world, will be encouraged to set up shop in India in collaboration with Indian institutions.

“If required, steps will be taken to put in place an enabling legislation. Rules/ regulations will be framed so that it is possible for a foreign university to offer its own degree to Indian students studying in India, such that these degrees will be valid also in the country of origin,” it said, adding that Indian institutions will also be allowed to set up campuses abroad, if required, through suitable legislation or amendments in the relevant Acts or statutes.

Higher education According to the draft: “An Education Commission comprising academic experts will be set up every five years to assist the Ministry in identifying new knowledge areas, disciplines and domains as well as pedagogic, curricular and assessment reforms at the global level.”

The government will endeavour to implement the recommendations of the earlier policies of 1968 and 1986/92 for the creation of an Indian Education Service (IES), reiterated in the current proposals too, the draft notes.

The IES will be an all India service with the MHRD as the cadre controlling authority. Till the IES comes into existence, an interim step of a one-time special recruitment by UPSC from among the existing academic and administrative positions in the education sector in various States will be made, in concurrence with the States.

Moreover, the policy suggests the creation of a Central Educational Statistics Agency for central data collection, compilation and consolidation, with high quality statistical expertise and a management information system that will be used for predictive analysis, manpower planning and course corrections.

An autonomous body, responsible for the promotion, coordination, regulation and maintenance of standards in the Open and Distance Learning/Massive Open Online Courses system, will be set up.

School education While the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will undergo a re-orientation, it will be mandatory for school students to take the Std X board examination conducted by the Central and State Boards of Education to which their school is affiliated.

Skill development programmes in school and as part of the higher education system will be reoriented not only for gainful employment of students but also to help them develop entrepreneurial skills.

Moreover, transparent and merit-based norms and guidelines for recruitment of teachers will be formulated in consultation with the State governments, the draft says.

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