- The most obvious unwritten law in the context of Indian education institutions is that political interference of any nature should be minimal or in the best-case scenario, not at all. Ideally speaking, educational institutions should be governed by qualified academicians with decades of experience in the field rather than prop an outsider without any knowledge of running. However, what is witnessed in the country is that every position of importance in educational institutions is usually adorned by political appointments robbing the already strained center-state relationship even further. Of course, several concerned civil society activists, educationists, and academicians have raised red flags over the issue, but to no avail. You can’t stop politicians from interfering.
PC: Pudukkottai Info
- The moot point to ponder over here is why the Indian political class simply fails to stay away from politicizing the extremely critical education sector for the benefit of society at large. Take for instance how the University Grants Commission (UGC) is being used as a political pawn by various parties to further their own cause, even if it goes against the tenet of idealism. As reported recently, the UGC’s draft guidelines on selecting VCs grabbed national headlines and if implemented, will do no good but much harm. Further, National Education Policy 2020 has a clear vision of moving higher educational institutions (HEIs) towards full autonomy – academic and administrative. Autonomy is not some kind of sacred object in and of itself. Period.
PC: The Statesman
- Rather, evidence across democratic societies is unequivocal that autonomy is a prerequisite for helping HEIs deliver all their missions, be it classical ones like learning and teaching, or ones that have come into greater prominence in a more globally connected world, namely research and innovation and business outreach. New draft regulations by UGC rejig how vice-chancellors are to be appointed. But diluting the influence of state govts while increasing that of the centre, is hardly the way forward. As we are aware, Tamil Nadu and Kerala govts are already up in arms at what the change means for state universities, which after all states funds. Per draft regulations, the university chancellor i.e. the state governor, shall constitute the VC search-selection committee.
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PC: Business Standard
- The committee in turn shall comprise one member nominated by the chancellor, one by UGC’s chairman, and one by the university’s apex body. This change is patently not about eliminating political interference. It’s about – let’s be clear – imposing the Centre’s will on opposition-governed states. How’s that an improvement? And that’s aside from the question of increasing tensions in a federal system already politicized greatly. Opposition CMs vs BJP-appointed governors are already a stress point, including in university affairs. What’s to be gained by adding to the stress further? More centralization and bureaucratization are terrible ideas. As is disempowering academic achievements. Politicization will be counterproductive.
