In far-reaching reforms, a high-level body on education today endorsed a proposal for making class X exams optional in CBSE and a self-selecting collegium that will choose vice chancellors of universities.
The approval for HRD minister Kapil Sibal's plan for making class X exams optional to students who want to continue studies in the same schools and the new procedure for appointment of vice chancellors came at the meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) comprising state education ministers, union HRD ministers and some other ministers.
Sibal said that after the class X exam is made optional in CBSE, the states may follow the pattern based on the experience of the central board.
He said the collegium for selection of vice chancellors will be an autonomous body comprising experts and eminent academics and will suggest possible names for the posts.
"The collegium will put forth names for the post of vice chancellors before the government. If the government rejects it, then the matter will be referred to the collegium again. But there will be no interference from the government side in the appointment," Sibal told reporters.
The government would bring a bill for setting up of the National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER), which will have the provision for setting up of the collegium for appointment of vice chancellors, he said.
"CABE approved the proposal of a self-selecting collegium of eminent persons for greater objectivity and assistance to search committees in selection of chairperson and members of the proposed NCHER and in the selection of vice chancellors and other eminent academic and research positions,"Sibal said. He said the collegium for appointment of vice chancellors would be set up within the next one year.
Sibal said the members of the apex advisory body were unanimous on setting up of NCHER as an overarching agency in higher education. The agency, which has been outlined by the Yashpal Committee, will be framing policies and its functioning will be not be regulatory in nature. He said there was also unanimity among the CABE members to set up a Central Madrassa Board.
"The board should ensure that only non-theological education would be overseen by it. The Muslim community at large would also be consulted in the matter," he said. The proposed Board will have about seven clerics as its members. They will ensure that the reforms would not interfere with the religious teachings in the madrassas.
Referring to the concerns raised by some of the CABE members about dearth of qualified teachers, Sibal said the country needs two million trained teachers in the coming years. The government will explore all possible options to meet the shortfall, he said.The proposed NCHER will subsume the existing agencies like UGC, AICTE, DCE and NCTE. However, the agencies in medical and agriculture education will be kept out of the purview of the NCHER, Sibal said. He said the ministry has already prepared a draft Bill for setting up of the NCHER.
Sibal also announced setting up of education tribunals across the country that will look into malpractices by institutes and also grievances of students. Asked whether the move meant students need not approach courts for justice, Sibal said: "Absolutely, that is the idea. Students can get quick remedy of their grievances through these tribunals."
A Bill for this purpose has been prepared and will be moved to the Cabinet soon. The government will set up an accreditation agency to ensure quality in educational institutions and assured that the job would not be outsourced to any private agency.
Sibal said the government would require Rs1.5 lakh crore in the next five years for implementation of the Right To Education Act. The Union Government can spend about Rs45,000 crore for the purpose under the 11th Plan. Besides, it may spend another Rs45,000 crore in the first three years of the 12th Plan. It will need another Rs 60,000 crore for which the states should cooperate, Sibal said.
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