Accreditation of Educational Institutions, Panel draft bill ready

Plans are on of the government to make accreditation compulsory for all the institutions of higher education, to ensure quality education. The National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) is to prescribe norms of quality control and rules for the selection of Vice chancellors. The commission is to replace bodies like the University Grants commission, All India Council of Technical Education and National Council of Teachers Education, revealed the HRD Ministry on Monday wjile sharing some of the details of the draft.

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. National registry will be mainatined with names of eligible persons for the post of vice-chancellors. When required, 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.