Corporatization of Higher Education System
- SECRETARY, AIFUCTO
The government of India(MHRD) has brought out a draft bill to scrap the present University Grants Commission and to substitute it with a Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).The UGC was formed in 1956 in the back ground of the ideals enshrined in the Indian Constitution duly reflected in the observation of the first National Commission on Education headed by the erudite scholar Dr.Sarvapalli Radhakrishan.They formulated the foundation stone of our education system on the ideals of democracy,socialism,secularism and scientific thought.
After wide & extesive discussion across the country for a considerable period, a consensus was reached and a legislation for UGC came into light in 1956.Thus The constitution of UGC was the reflection of the concept of a welfare state.Keeping in view the mandate of the people of the country the UGC since its inception till today successfully expended the fabric of Higher Education and strengthened the public funded higher education system of the country.It has contributed immensely to the quality of Higher Education, Equity and more access, simultaneously provided dignified status to the teaching community of the country.
Since 1956 there has been phenomenal qualitative as well as quantitative extension of Higher Education in the country. At a moment when academicians, intellectuals,Teacher's organisations and even the Prof. Yadpal Committee Report suggested for reforms in the direction of strengthening the UGC to meet the dynamic challenge of 21st centutury,the MHRD becoming subservient to NEO liberal market forces have brought the legislation to scrap University Grants Commission and to form a puppet body to translate the hidden agenda of corporatization of Higher Education.
In 2014 thCentral Govt.assured the nation to bring out a New Education Policy to make the education system more vibrent and inclusive. Accordingly a committee under the chairmanship of a beaurocrat T Subrahmanayam was formed.The reason best known to this Govt. the report of the Subrahmanyam did not see the light of the day and another committee under chairmanship of Dr.N Kastoori Ranjan was formed.Undemocratically without waiting for the report of the committee and not having consultation with stakeholders, the MHRD has gone for disastrously reforms measures such as HEFA, HEERA,Graded Autonomy and the present HECI are contradictory to the fundamental values of Indian Education System and will open flood gate of Centralisation, Commercialisation, Corporatization and Communalisation of our education system. The recent announcement of MHRD as a centre of eminence for still to be born Jio Reliance Education Foundation exposed the clandestine love of Modi Govt.towards Corporatization of Higher Education. This draft HECI Bill is the culmination of corporatization of Higher Education system. It will dismantle and destroy the total public funded education system and will seriously jeopardise the Automy of the institutions and intellectual freedom of the academicians. The more dangerous is, if this bill becomes an act, will deprive the vast majority of weak & marginalised section of society for ever from the ambit of Higher Education. This proposed draft bill is a direct affront on our federal structure of the constitution.
The National Executive Committee of AIFUCTO rejects the draft bill on HECI in the interest of our constitution,protection and strengthening of public funded education system and to ensure an inclusive education policy.The NEC of AIFUCTO is of the firm view that the present University Grants Commission has to continue and be strengthened through consultation among all political parties, teachers ' Organisations, student's organisations and all other stake holders.AIFUCTO appeals to the intellectuals, teacher's,student's, guardians and public at a large for a nation wide compaign to resist the Neo liberal assault by the Govt.on our education system. ◆◆◆
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