'NAAC accreditation will become mandatory'

Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of Foundation Day lecture at Mangalore University here on Monday, he said the Bill will be placed in the Parliament in the winter session. Till now, NAAC certification was based on requests from colleges.

Now, the UGC and HRD Ministry have decided to make it mandatory for all institutions. Once the Bill is passed, then all the newly starting colleges and universities will have to be accredited and assessed for admitting the students. The other existing universities and colleges will be given three years time to go for accreditation and assessment.

As many as 5,000 colleges and 162 universities have been accredited in the country. The NAAC certification is valid for five years.

The NAAC methodology was being made robust to assess and accredit the educational system which was highly diverse. As many as 15,000 educational institutions are eligible for NAAC accreditation in the country, he added.