Bill being drafted for unified higher education regulator: Education ministry
In his reply, Majumdar stated, "The National Education Policy 2020 envisions a 'light but tight' regulatory framework to ensure integrity, transparency, and resource efficiency of the educational system through audit and public disclosure, while encouraging innovation and out-of-the-box ideas through autonomy, good governance and empowerment."He further added that in alignment with this vision, the ministry is actively drafting a bill to set up the Higher Education Commission of India.The creation of HECI would lead to the phasing out of existing regulators, namely the University Grants Commission (UGC), which oversees general higher education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), responsible for technical education, and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), which governs teacher education.PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO FORM HECIThe idea of a unified regulator is not new. The first draft of the HECI Bill was introduced in 2018, when the government published it for public feedback and stakeholder consultation. However, the proposal did not move forward at the time.A renewed push for the HECI was seen after Dharmendra Pradhan took over as the Union Education Minister in July 2021.Since then, the need for a consolidated regulatory system has been highlighted as essential for overhauling India's fragmented higher education governance.WHY A UNIFIED BODY MATTERSThe NEP 2020 underscores that the current regulatory landscape is in need of a 'complete overhaul' to energise and streamline the higher education sector.A single authority like the HECI is seen as critical to removing duplication of roles and ensuring better coordination across disciplines, including arts, science, technology, and teacher education.By consolidating functions currently managed by three separate bodies, the proposed commission aims to reduce bureaucracy, simplify decision-making, and ensure more efficient allocation of resources.Further details, including the final draft of the HECI Bill, are expected to be released by the Ministry of Education once the internal drafting process is complete.- EndsMust Watch
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