New Delhi: Comprehensive exercise of reviewing of the status of the deemed universities has been announced by HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal. As per the sources, the spate of complaints logged against the deemed universities led the minister to order a wide-ranging review after he took charge.
According to the UGC website, there are 124 deemed universities which have been accorded approvals. Some investigative work done by a reputed media group in recent days has revealed that there are several of these which have sprung up recently and got the status of deemed university just because of some kind of approach in the corridors of power. These universities are now under scanner.
Under Section 3 of the UGC Act, deemed-to be university status is granted by the Centre to “educational institutions of repute who fulfill prescribed standards”. While the stipulation has helped in the rapid growth of private education sector, it has provided a window to some to create a web of money spinning institutions.
The move to clean up UGC’s Augean stables is the first step towards putting in place a transparent system of affiliation and standards. The ambiguities existing in UGC Act have offered the private universities opportunity of gaining the recognition through a corrupt system and then extracting capitation fees from students.
Not surprisingly, several politicians have promoted professional medical and engineering colleges. Courts in the recent years have been flooded with numerous petitions, against arbitrary grant of recognition to new colleges as well as for speciality disciplines.
Not surprisingly, several politicians have promoted professional medical and engineering colleges. Courts in the recent years have been flooded with numerous petitions, against arbitrary grant of recognition to new colleges as well as for speciality disciplines.
