DUTA Condemns Govt.’s Decision to Replace UGC with HECI

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has trashed the government’s decision to replace UGC with Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). As per DUTA, replacing UGC with HECI will lead to an increased direct interference by the governments. They are further of the opinion that the government lacks clarity and purpose for replacing UGC and how it would address the needs of higher education in a better way.

HRD Ministry uploaded the draft Higher Education Commission Act 2018 on its official website for public feedback. The draft Act will be available on the official website until July 07, 2018, so that public, academicians, experts in the education system and stakeholders can share their feedback.

Expressing its views on draft HECI Act, DUTA alleged that the government is planning to replace the complete structure without carrying out a detailed study of its achievement and founding goals. The draft Act also lacks clarity on possible measures necessary for the improvement of higher education standards in the country.

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DUTA also criticised a particular clause of the draft Act, which indicates that the role of government would be more in terms of awarding of grants, while HECI will focus only on academic matters. So far, UGC has been looking after monetary grants and the separation of such specific powers will increase direct interference by the governments. The move will also corporatize the education sector, as the focus will be more on best practices, one-size-fits-all administrative models etc., expressed DUTA.

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MHRD is planning to table the draft HECI Act in Parliament during the monsoon session. It will be interesting to see whether the setting up of HECI will materialise or not.