Title: A Game-Changer For Higher Education
(The renewed focus on RUSA is welcome, but its litmus test
will be in how impartially it is administered)
The Union Cabinet’s decision recently to not only continue
with the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) — ‘a
Centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2013 to provide strategic funding to
eligible State higher educational institutions’ — but also give it due
importance augurs (शुभ संकेत) well for the system of higher education in
India.
Ground realities
ü India
is estimated to have over 800 universities (over 40,000 colleges
are affiliated to them). About 94% of students of higher education study in
369 State universities.
ü But
the Central government’s slant toward premier institutions has continued ever since
the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12), where in spite of a nine-fold
increase in Budget allocation State institutions have been left to fend
for themselves with funding mainly directed towards starting more Indian
Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management
and Central universities.
Ground realities
ü Today
about 150 Centrally-funded institutions (less than 6% of
students study in them) — corner almost the entire funding by the Ministry
of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
ü To
make things worse, investment by State governments has been also dwindling
each year as higher education is a low-priority area.
ü RUSA
is a process-driven scheme. Its design and conceptualisation were finalised
through extensive consultations with all key stakeholders, especially
State governments.
ü Preparatory
grants were released to States to have the required systems, processes,
and the technical support in place.
ü Despite
being voluntary, all States except a Union Territory (Lakshadweep) are
a part of RUSA.
ü RUSA
began with a modest allocation of ₹500 crore, but over time has seen its
resource allocation being increased.
Reform as core
ü State
Higher Education Councils (SHECs) which have eminent academics,
industrialists and other experts have been created, playing a major
role, from an academic and professional point of view, in the formulation
of medium- and long-term State perspective plans.
ü In
order to avoid arbitrariness, a State, for example, has to also
give its commitment to creating a search-cum-select committee in
the selection of vice-chancellors.
Reform as core
ü Mitigating
the bane of the affiliation system is also a major objective. This is
achieved through a reduction in the number of colleges affiliated per
university by creating cluster universities and promoting autonomous
colleges.
ü An
important precondition is the filling up of faculty positions and lifting
the ban on recruitment (as in some States).
Visible change
ü RUSA
can prove be a real game changer for higher education in the country. It
has not only reprioritised the country’s needs, from funding just a few
premier institutions to reaching out to institutions at the bottom of the
pyramid, but has also changed the way regulators need to function.
ü However
its litmus test will be in how impartially the scheme is administered by
the MHRD and the degree to which State governments allow the SHEC
to function.
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha
Abhiyan (RUSA) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2013 aims at providing
strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions.
ü The
central funding (in the ratio of 60:40 for general category States, 90:10
for special category states and 100% for union territories) would be
norm based and outcome dependent.
ü The
funding would flow from the central ministry through the state
governments/union territories to the State Higher Education Councils
before reaching the identified institutions.
ü The
funding to states would be made on the basis of critical appraisal of
State Higher Education Plans, which would describe each state’s
strategy to address issues of equity, access and excellence in higher
education.
Vocabulary words:
- Impartially (adv) = Neutrally (निष्पक्षता से)
- Augur (verb) = Be a sign of (शुभ संकेत)
- Slant (noun) = Incline (झुकाव)
- Fend (verb) = Defend oneself (बचाव करना)
- Dwindle (verb) = Diminish gradually (कम हो चलना)
- Foist (verb) = Impose an unwelcome person or thing on (थोपना)
- Modest (adj) = Moderate, small (मामूली)
- Eminent (adj) = Famous, obvious (प्रख्यात)
- Arbitrariness (noun) = Autocracy (मनमानी करना)
- Mitigate (verb) = Reduce (कम करना)
- Bane (noun) = Grievance (शाप)
- Accreditation (noun) = Recognasibility (मान्यता)
