Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has decided to observe 11th November, birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Union Minister of Education as the “National Education Day” every year. A resolution to this effect has been adopted by the Government of India on September 11th, 2008. At this occasion, it will be pertinent to present a brief overview of the proceedings and recommendations of an expert level panel discussion organized by the Academic Staff College of the University of Kashmir in association with Indian Institute of Public Administration, Kashmir Chapter at SKICC, Srinagar on November 1st, 2008. Veteran educationists of the state including principals of several degree colleges and noted academicians of the Universities of Kashmir and Jammu participated in the panel discussion that was divided into two sessions in addition to the inaugural session. Theme of the first session was, “Higher Education in India – Changing Dynamics”, whereas the theme for second session was, “Higher Education – Professional Development and Quality Control”.
Dignitaries and academicians who spoke during the inaugural session include Dr. Ashok Bhan, Hon. General Secretary, IIPA, Kashmir Chapter, Prof. Mehraj-ud-din, Director, Academic Staff College, University of Kashmir, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Shri N. N. Vohra, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Dr. G. N. Qasba, Hony. Jt. Secretary, IIPA, Kashmir Chapter. During his keynote address, Prof. Mehraj-ud-din comprehensively dwelled upon various government reports and recommendations vis-a-vis higher education in India and besides presenting statistical information about the past and prevailing scenario, he focussed upon the progressively falling standards in higher education and the remedial measures required to address the same. He also substantiated his observations with the remarks made by renowned educationists, political leaders, former prime ministers, vice-chancellors etc from time to time. He made a number of recommendations towards improving the entire system.
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, in his special address also made a set of recommendations for introspection and subsequent rectification of our higher education system that include addressing the problems at micro level with special reference to the J&K state, bridging the gap between academia and policy-makers, making greater infrastructure available to colleges and universities, restoring dignity of teachers and honouring their feedback, need for non-intervention by political forces, greater collaboration and better coordination between three units of education at school, college and University level. Shri N. N. Vohra, Governor of the J&K state presented a comparative overview of the situation existing at the time of independence of India and the one existing today. He expressed his grave concern over deteriorating standards of education alongside a proportional increase in the number of educational institutions. He emphasized upon the eminent academicians of the state to determine the extent, in the context of present democratic functioning, to which we can proceed further and set the system right. He informed the gathering about the government decision to set up a committee to establish state knowledge commission.
During the first session that was chaired by Prof. A.G. Madhosh, former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Kashmir and co-chaired by Prof. T. A. Kawoos, Principal, Amar Singh College, Sringar, several noted educationists of the state presented their views and recommendations. Those who spoke besides Chairman and Co-Chairman during the first session include Prof. G. R. Malik, former Head, Dept. of English/Director, EMMRC, University of Kashmir, Prof. Mushtaq Ah. Peer, Director, Institute of Computer Sciences, University of Kashmir, Prof. (Dr.) Zeenat Ara, Principal, Govt. Women’s College, Srinagar, Prof. Z. A. Chatt, Senior Faculty, Govt. Degree College, Anantnag and Prof. C. L. Vishen, Chairman, CASET. During post-session interaction, Mr. Nasir Mirza, Senior Faculty, MERC, University of Kashmir, Prof. M. I. Nazki, ex-Controller of Examinations, University of Kashmir, Prof. A. R. Khan, Professor of Zoology, Prof. Yasmin, Prof. Sharf-e-Alam, former Vice-Chancellor of Patna University and others participated in the deliberations.
During the second session that was chaired by Prof. Nisar Ali, Coordinator, PG Centres, University of Kashmir and co-chaired by Prof. G. M. Dar, Principal, Sadiq Memorial College of Education, Srinagar, experts who presented their views and suggestions besides chairman and the co-chairman include, Prof. G. M. Sangmi, Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kashmir, Prof. N. A. Nadeem, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Kashmir, Prof. M. I. Nazki, ex-Controller of Examination, University of Kashmir, Prof. A. R. Rather, former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Kashmir, Prof. Ashok Aima, Senior Faculty, The Business School, University of Jammu, Prof. V.K. Kapoor, Director, Law School, University of Jammu, Prof. Abdul Hamid, Principal, Govt. College of Education, Sringar, Prof. Syed Rabia Firdous, Principal, Gandhi Memorial College, Srinagar and Prof. Nazir Ahmed Gilkar, Senior Faculty, Degree College, Bemina. Several principals of various degree colleges and university teachers participated in the post-session interactions and posed many questions to the panellists.
A brief overview of the recommendations made by the above-mentioned experts towards improving the existing scenario in our higher education system during the day-long panel discussion is given as under.
Almost all panellists including Prof. Riyaz Punjabi were of the view that there is need for greater integration and better coordination between primary, secondary, higher secondary and university level education in the state. While nobody was averse to establishing any educational institute with an aim of making education accessible to all, at the same time it was felt that prior to opening up of new colleges, adequate infrastructure, faculty and other facilities need to be made available. New colleges should not be opened at the cost of the faculty strength of existing ones. As such the practice of diverting faculty to the newly established colleges from the already existing ones should be done away with and adequate infrastructure, faculty and other facilities should also be made available to the existing higher educational institutions in addition to the newly established ones. They should not be ignored in the race of taking credit for opening up a number of new colleges in the state. Participants of the panel discussion opined that unplanned expansion of educational institutions as has recently been in vogue in the state is not in the larger interests of our higher education set up and therefore should be stopped unless we address the issue of capacity building first in its right earnest.
There is also need for diversification of education at middle or high school level owing to the fact that orientation of students towards professional subjects needs to be done from 8th or 10th standard onwards so as to provide greater avenues and foster their inherent capabilities in one particular stream rather than making them study all kinds of subjects irrespective of their personal interests and inclinations. Education should be made compulsory only upto a particular stage and then it should be made more choice-based. Admission policy in colleges and universities should be streamlined and made fool-proof. Admissions should be strictly made on the basis of total intake capacity of the respective institutions and the aptitude/merit of aspiring candidates rather than on the basis of other stray considerations. There are instances where colleges having a total intake capacity of 4000 have ended up giving admissions to over 12000 students in a single session. Need of the hour is to implement UGC guidelines in letter and spirit and stop violating norms.
Many academicians in the discussion vehemently asserted that the privatization of higher education is essential and needs to be fostered to the utmost extent possible in order to realize the dream of imparting quality education to our youth. Therefore initiatives of private players in higher education may be encouraged subject to a strict regulatory vigil under the aegis of a regulatory authority or higher education council. However some experts aired their views by saying that partnership should be the key to development rather than gross privatization of the education sector. A robust and comprehensive education policy should be framed in the state and there should be equitable participation and involvement of academicians in framing policies related to higher education. Reports and recommendations submitted by various committees and academicians should find due place in the ultimate policy framework of the government. Faculty strength of our educational institutions should be augmented in order to face the challenges of globalization and open up vistas for national as well as trans-national higher education. The role of a teacher in higher education should change from knowledge disseminator to knowledge creator with greater emphasis to be laid on making higher education more professional/vocational so as to enhance the job opportunities of our products and make our pass-outs more acceptable in job markets of the world.
Creative skills and competitive spirits of the students of higher education should be fostered and encouraged. In order to make our students better citizens, human and moral values need to be inculcated in them by way of value-based education. That is very important in order to lessen the burden of evils and turmoil in our society. Industry-academia interaction should be enhanced. At least one residential college at each district headquarters should be upgraded/established with extended library access to students as well as the faculty beyond normal working hours of the college. There should be greater autonomy to institutions of higher learning and the concept of autonomous colleges as envisaged under the objectives of proposed state knowledge commission should be seriously considered. There is dire need to carry out regular review and updation of syllabi as well as reforms in evaluation/examination patterns by all educational institutes. Adhocism and contractualism that breeds mediocrity in higher education should be abolished and only clear vacancies should be created and subsequently got filled up by meritorious candidates through proper selection procedure.
Objectives of higher education should be properly defined and total quality management procedures adopted in teaching, research and extension at the institutions of higher learning. Undue intervention by politicians in educational institutions should be stopped and the academicians should be allowed to work freely without submitting to any extraneous considerations. Ways and means should be explored to reduce the stress levels among students as a result of emerging cut throat competition and decreasing job opportunities. We should keep pace with brisk technological advancements in teaching learning process and should not lag behind in adopting the latest technology in every sphere of our education, be it in teaching, devising syllabi, evaluation methods, certification and automation procedures etc. Distance mode of education should be expanded to enhance accessibility to education. Alongside providing better perks and remuneration to teachers, they should be made more accountable. Transparency in educational institutions should be increased and teachers should have a greater realization of their responsibilities towards the society. Recruitment and transfer procedures and policies in educational institutions should be made more transparent so that they are not used by the vested interests as a tool for punishment or reward. Integrated efforts should be made by all stake holders in converting our educational institutes into the centres of knowledge and excellence. All players should contribute their bit towards building a knowledge based society.
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