Hundred community colleges to be set up

The Centre has proposed to set up 100 community colleges on a pilot basis as an alternate system of higher education that will offer job-oriented courses to students.

The Human Resource Development Ministry which mooted the proposal to be implemented in the 12th Five Year Plan aims at giving access to higher education especially to those from disadvantaged sections.

“With the continuing demand-supply mismatch, where some colleges have cut-offs as high as 100 per cent, it is imperative to ensure a seat for a local student seeking higher education in a college or institution in the district in which he or she resides,” a HRD Ministry official told Deccan Herald.

Thus, the concept of community college is that any student willing to pursue higher education must be allowed and academic excellence should not be a barrier.

“It is expected that around one lakh additional students can get access through first 100 community colleges proposed to be set up on pilot basis and the number would rise as implementation progresses. This will also ensure an increase in effective gross enrolment ratio (GER),” the official said.

As per the proposal, community colleges will offer two-year programme on various disciplines which will have employment potentials, especially in industries. After completion of courses, students will be awarded ‘associate degrees’.

“Community colleges may have a few or many disciplines based on the needs and employment potential,” the Ministry official added.

The Ministry has proposed to identify 80 colleges under the University Grants Commission (UGC) and 20 polytechnics under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to set up 100 community colleges.

“Some incentives from the government could be provided to the institutions acting as community colleges in shifts when normal colleges do not utilise their infrastructure including laboratories or classrooms). These could be mandatorily accredited by the accrediting agencies on satisfaction of set norms and with mandatory disclosures,” another HRD Ministry official said.