New Delhi: The Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Kapil Sibal, has said that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched e-governance for transaction of all its business, including online submission of applications for transparency and clarity as well as easier and assured communication and fast processing of applications.
Mr. Sibal said this while speaking to the members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of HRD. The agenda of the meeting was Reforms in All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). As per sources, a presentation was also made in the meeting, on the reforms initiated in the AICTE. The presentation summarized the following regarding reforms.
Organizational reforms: In order to strengthen the organization and enhance the functioning and performance of the Council, the following measures and practices have been adopted:
- Improvement in security measures
- Introduction of e-governance system for transparency
- Website is being modified to make it more users friendly
- Office manuals for adopting procedures have been drafted.
- Induction training/orientation programmes for incumbents are being drafted.
- Proper Records management, retention/weeding is being carried out.
- Personnel are appointed on deputation basis.
- Execution of Work order for Construction of Permanent Building at JNU
- Council approval for setting Internal Audit cell for finance & as well as performance Audit.
- Council is also exploring the possibility of Digitization of records.
Online submission of applications all year round: The process for the approval of cases electronically started for the year 2010-11 with effect from January 10, 2010. It provided facility for tracking of applications by applicants and emphasizes on Self declarations by Institutions rather than inspections.
New Institutes/Integrated Campus: New institutes can now start with enhanced intake capacity for more economic viability. Engineering/Tech institute can seek an intake of 300 instead of 240. Similarly MCA/MBA/PGDM/Pharmacy/Art & Craft can seek intake of 120 instead of 60 and Architecture & Town Planning 80 instead of 40.
Norms for Land Requirement: Land requirement for engineering institutions in mega cities reduced from 3 to 2.5 acres and in metro cities from 5 to 4 acres.
As per sources, it was also stated in the meeting that the Council has accorded approval to more than 7000 Institutions to impart technical education to around 2.0 million students in the country until now. The Member of Parliament (MP) voiced their views and concerns about AICTE, while succeeding to the presentation. Sources informed that most of the MPs underlined that the quality of education must be a major concern, while increasing the number of colleges and seats.
However, some MPs spoke about the corruption/malpractices reported about educational institutions, sources added. Efficiency of the e-governance system and glitches and delays that had come to light regarding it, was also a topic raised by some MPs. In addition, one MP inquired about the reason for according the e-governance contract to a private party rather than NIC.
Kapil Sibal said that the subject of the next Consultative Committee could also be AICTE reforms, considering the deep interest in the matter. He said this in a reply to the concerns of the MPs. In addition, Mr. Sibal stated that the proposed Prohibition of Educational Malpractices Bill and The National Accreditation Regulatory Authority Bill seek to address the issues of corruption and quality respectively.
As per sources, D Purandeswari, Minister of State for HRD, Anshu Vaish, Secretary (SE&L) and Vibha Puri Das, Secretary, (HE), besides other senior officials of the ministry were present at the meeting.
