New Delhi: Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry’s next step is to provide a credible and interference free system to appoint Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of universities. Now, the ministry has drafted provisions in a new legislation, which aims to bring in structural changes in the higher education sector.
As per sources, the Draft Bill proposes the creation of National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER), which will maintain a national record of those eligible candidates who stand a chance of being appointed as a Vice Chancellor or even heads of educational institutes. According to the Draft Bill, which is based on the recommendations of a high-powered task force, normally the government appoints a search committee to identify and recommends names for appointment of VCs. However, this process involves a lot of political influence, so in order to simplify and ensure transparency, the Commission would simply recommend a set of five names from the national registry - one of whom would be appointed as a VC.
The Prime Minister-backed National Knowledge Commission (NKC) and the Prof Yashpal-led Committee report on Rejuvenation of Higher Education recommended sans political appointments for the VCs. Apart from the VC appointments, the Bill also has in store a legislation for every new university / institute that before they begin with their first academic session they must be accredited.
