UGC to be revamped, says Smriti

New national education policy also on cards

The government is contemplating setting up a high-level committee of experts which will suggest measures to carry out a “comprehensive” overhaul of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

“The commission will be restructured and revamped not only to strengthen the regulatory framework but also to improve access, quality and employability as well as promote equity in the higher education sector,” HRD Minister Smriti Irani said in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Replying to another question, the minister also reiterated the government’s plan to formulate a new national policy on education to meet the challenges posed by lack of quality, research and innovation in educational institutions.

Citing reasons for bringing a new policy on education, Irani said a “monumental change” was being witnessed in the education sector with the emergence of several “new paradigms” in the last 20 years.

Though a national policy on education, which was formulated in 1986 and later amended in 1992, had been a “guiding document” for the central government so far, a new policy was needed to meet new challenges in view of the change in global scenario, she suggested.

“In the last 20 years, the education scenario has seen a monumental change with the emergence of several new paradigms like rights based approach to elementary education, the endeavour to extend universalisation to secondary education,” the minister noted.

She also highlighted the need to “reshape the higher education scenario” and its impact on the innovation environment as well as providing an “impetus” to skill development through vocational education keeping in mind the emergence of new technologies.

“The government proposes to formulate a new education policy aimed at meeting the challenges posed by lack of quality, research and innovation in our educational institutions,” Irani said.