VBSA bill has essence of NEP for good governance: NAAC chief, ETEducation
Trichy: The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan (VBSA) Bill, proposed by the Centre to overhaul higher education by replacing UGC, AICTE and NCTE with a single regulatory body, carries the essence of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, said NAAC director G Kannabiran at Bharathidasan University‘s 40th convocation on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, Kannabiran said under NEP 2020, higher education institutions are envisioned as public-spirited, self-governing autonomous bodies supported by good governance, transparency and public disclosure.
The Bill has faced strong opposition from Tamil Nadu MPs and academicians and is currently under review by a joint parliamentary committee. He said the overarching commission would ensure a ‘unified direction,’ aligned with national priorities, while the remaining functions of higher education would be decentralised through a regulatory council, an accreditation council and a standards council.
The proposed bill ensures that the commission will include presidents of all three councils, thereby maintaining ‘harmony’ in the functioning of the commission and its verticals. “The new commission and its verticals mandate representation from States through membership and representatives from state universities,” said Kannabiran, who is also a member of the planning board of Bharathidasan University appointed by governor R N Ravi.
Continuing his address at the university where NAAC accreditation has expired in 2024 , Kannabiran said with more than 75% of colleges and 55% of universities yet to undergo accreditation, a simple framework called ‘basic accreditation’ would be launched soon.
“The proposed maturity-based system is designed to place institutions at levels ranging from 1 to 5, with Level 5 institutions expected to emerge as global centres for multidisciplinary education and research. The committee also plans to provide handholding support to first-time institutions seeking accreditation and to mentor institutions in rural and remote locations,” he added.
The governor distributed degree certificates to 780 candidates, including 690 PhD scholars and 90 rank holders. In addition, 96,818 students from around 150 affiliated institutions were awarded degrees in absentia. Others present on the dais included syndicate members, VC committee convenor E Sundaravalli, and Registrar R Kalidasan.
Higher education minister Govi Chezhian, who is also pro-chancellor, stayed away. School education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who was conferred a PhD, also did not attend. Out of the 691 PhD students conferred in person, the minister was the only one who was awarded the degree in-absentia.
This is the third instance this year of the higher education minister or the concerned minister skipping a convocation since governor R N Ravi walked out of the assembly earlier this month. Chezhian did not attend the Madras University convocation, while fisheries minister Anitha Radhakrishnan stayed away from Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University convocation. “The last time the governor and the minister were seen together at a convocation was in 2023, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present,” a BDU professor said.
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