Education sector becomes money making machine in Arunachal Taba Ajum ITANAGAR, Sept 4: As Arunachal is gearing up to celebrate Teachers’ Day, education scenario in the state is worrying many citizens. Especially the way the education sector has been turned into money making monster by greedy politicians and their coterie poses serious threat to the future of Arunachal Pradesh. State government instead of concentrating in improving government runs colleges, Arunachal University (Pasighat) and Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), has opened the door to private universities to start business in the state. These private universities are namely Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University (Ziro), Venkateshwara Open University (Naharlagun), Apex University (Pasighat), Himalayan University (Itanagar) and Arunachal University of Studies. In the name of giving degree, all the above mentioned private universities are fast turning into money minting machine and are compromising with future of thousands of students. Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University (Ziro) along with Himalayan University (Itanagar) are already inviting application for various degrees including prestigious Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), M. Tech, Master in Philosophy (M.Phil) along with numerous other professional courses. The big question is does these universities have proper infrastructure and adequate faculty to start their operation? Do they have requisite permission from concern authorities like UGC, AICTE? University Grant Commission (UGC) has already made it clear in the past that “the inclusion of the name of the university in the list of universities maintained by the UGC does not itself allow the university to make admission in its programmes.” Therefore if private universities are starting activities just on the pretext that they have been recognized by UGC, then they are violating the guidelines of the same UGC. On January this year, Rakhsa Pahwa under secretary UGC had written to the registrar of Venkateshwar Open University informing it that admission process can only be started after creation of required academic and physical infrastructure facilities including library, laboratories and appointment of teaching and supporting staff as per the norms and standard laid down by the UGC and statutory councils concerned. Also private university are supposed to submit detail information of above mentioned to UGC and accordingly an expert committee will be constituted by Commission to ascertain whether university fulfils the criteria in terms of programmes, faculty, infrastructural facilities, financial viability etc as laid down from time to time by UGC and other concerned statutory bodies such as AICTE, BCI, MCI, DCI, INC, NCTE, PCI etc. In their websites none of the five private universities operating from state has mentioned any information regarding visit of UGC expert committee to their respective universities. In August 2011, UGC wrote to education commissioner, Govt of Arunachal informing that as per Supreme Court order no off campus centre(s) should be allowed to open by the private university outside the territorial jurisdiction of the state. However private universities of state like Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University, Ziro has opened its office at Paryavaran Complex, South of Saket, New Delhi. Venkateshwara University too has its office at Malviya Nagar, New Delhi. They are accepting application forms from their Delhi based offices. Govt of Arunachal especially education department has failed to check this rampant selling of degrees. According to the sources all these private universities has backing of powerful politicians. At present Arunachal have 18 degree colleges, 11 professional institutions and university level institution which include RGU, Arunachal University, NERIST and NIT, Yupia. The government run degree colleges are fighting numerous problems whereas RGU and NERIST have become battle ground for power struggle between politicians and local citizen of area. Instead of bothering to solve these burning problems, state government is busier in appeasing private universities. Very surprisingly majority of student unions of state is keeping mum on this issue. It seems Arunachalee citizen are waiting for next CMJ university type scandal to take place in the state.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 08:20:11 +0000
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