23 July :Shri Arjun Singh, Human Resource Development Minister has said that 11th Plan is very ambitious plan. PM has allotted funds and education has become biggest beneficiary. The plan can be fruitful only when it is carried out by close cooperation of all the States.
Shri Arjun Singh further said that expansion by itself would not mean much unless it is accompanied by equity. Without equity the very purpose of education will be defeated. I hope all the States are fully aware of the social justice requirements. Shri Arjun Singh was inaugurating the two-day State Ministers Conference on Higher and Technical Education here today.
Shri Singh also said there is an unprecedented nine-fold increase in outlays for higher and technical education during the XIth Plan. This higher allocation would result in the creation of 30 Central Universities including 14 new World Class universities; 8 new IITs; 7 new IIMs; 5 new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs); 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs); 2 new schools of Planning & Architecture;
1000 new polytechnics, strengthening of 500 existing polytechnics; one time assistance to universities and colleges which do not get qualified under section 12 B for UGC’s assistance at present; assisting State Governments to establish one College of Excellence in each of the 373 districts which have a lower than national average Gross Enrolment Ratio, a new National Education Mission through ICT; and a National Translation Mission. ‘I am happy to share that many of the above institutions will commence their sessions in the current year itself through temporary campuses’, he added.
The HRM also informed that it has been proposed in the XIth Plan to introduce reforms including those in examinations, introduction of semester system, grading, credit transfer, regular updating of curricula and syllabi and reforms in teaching methods. We are also finalising a Central Sector Scheme, for providing interest subsidy on the educational loans taken by students belonging to the economically weaker sections for pursuing professional education in India. Shri Singh also added that we are also about to launch a National Education Mission through ICT, under which we propose to provide broadband connectivity in all out institutions of Higher Education in the country and make available enough e-learning material.
Shri Singh particularly underlined the problem of unrecognised institutions. He said that we should find out which institution is covered by which regulatory body. While I had
directed UGC, AICTE and DEC etc. to take effective deterrent action against such fake or unauthorised institution which have no requisite approvals, I would like to request all of you to extend your fullest cooperation in curbing your menace.
The Secretary, Higher Education Shri R.P. Agrawal in his inaugural speech touched upon the issue of assistance to universities and colleges which are not covered under section 12 B under UGC Act, increasing the expenditure on education by States with a view to increase the share of the State Governments in achieving the target of expenditure on education as 6% of GDP and quality and inclusiveness in higher education.
The two-day conference will also discuss the mode of operationalizing the scheme of 373 degree colleges and incentivising the state governments for setting of new institutions and also advance preparations for implementing new schemes. Smt. D. Purandeswari, MOS, Ministry of HRD; Prof. S.K. Thorat, Chairman UGC; Prof. R.A. Yadav, Chairman AICTE; Prof. G.K Pillai, VC, IGNOU and Additional Secretary in the Ministry also graced the occasion.