Centre asks states to get higher educational institutions accredited

The Centre has asked state governments to impress upon all higher educational institutions functioning under them to get accredited. A majority of these institutes are yet to apply for accreditation despite the University Grants Commission (UGC) making it mandatory.

According to sources, at a meeting of the state higher education secretaries here, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry suggested them to disseminate amongst the state higher educational institutions the need to undergo assessment and accreditation.

The Ministry also asked the states to familiarise the institutions with the processes required for seeking accreditation, assuring them of full support by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and the National Board of Accreditation (NAC).

“A large number of institutions are yet to apply for accreditation despite the notification issued by the UGC in March. The role of state governments is significant in getting all the institutions accredited as it would enable the higher education system of the country to become a part of the global quality assurance system,” a HRD Ministry official said.  Recently, the UGC made assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions mandatory across the country. The HRD Ministry decided to introduce it through an executive order as the National Accreditation Authority Bill is pending in Parliament for nearly three years.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has also approved regulations for mandatory assessment and accreditation of technical institutions. “These will be notified shortly,” a HRD Ministry official said. The Ministry suggested the states to adopt mandatory accreditation as one of the norms for deciding state funding in the days to come. The Ministry also asked the states to explore formation of credible assessment and accreditation agencies, sources privy to the meeting of state secretaries said.

At the meeting, the Ministry told the states that accreditation agencies should be registered as non-profit entity. They should be academically and financially an autonomous body. “In this regard, required assistance can be extended by NAAC or NBA. Funding can be extended through Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan,” sources added.

“Till the formation of the National Accreditation Regulatory Authority, the UGC and AICTE will be the body according recognition to the state accreditation agencies. The procedure outlined in the Bill will be applied for according recognition to the institutions,” a Ministry official said.