While privately owned schools are clamouring against the supposed unfairness of the Right to Education (RTE) legislation, private colleges and universities are making a bit of noise of their own about autonomy. The Education Promotion Society of India (EPSI), whose focus is national and regional issues concerning higher education, is looking to start a Bengaluru Chapter.
Over 45 universities and colleges participated in the consultation meeting called by EPSI today, with representatives from the fields of medicine, engineering, management and the arts. More autonomy tops their list of battles to fight, more so in the light of bills such as the National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2010, the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2010, and the Education Tribunals Bill, 2010. “We hope to bridge the gap between private institutions and the government,” said Dr G. Viswanathan, president, EPSI. These bills are pending in the Lok Sabha and have created a good deal of indignation among privately owned institutions, for it effectively erases any hope they may have had of greater autonomy.
“Take the Education Tribunals Bill, 2010,” said Dr Viswanathan. “It prohibits teachers and students from going to court. We can only go to the state-level tribunal. We cannot get stay orders or injunctions.” EPSI also wants the system of accreditation to be alienated from the government. “We want independent industry bodies to be part of the accreditation board because they are the recruiters,” said Dr H. Chaturvedi, Alt president, EPSI. “The accreditation bill stipulates that the government agencies will become very fast, which they haven’t been for 15 years.”
Dr Chaturvedi says government institutions are part of the plan. “We have involved government institutions as well. This is about autonomy and accountability, which go hand in hand." The list of resolutions passed at the EPSI meeting has already been sent to the Prime Minister for his consideration.