New Delhi: Strongly opposing draft University Grants Commission (Setting up and operation of Campus of foreign Higher education Institutions in to India) Regulations, 2023, Action and Development Teachers Association (AADTA) alleged that it will convert educational institutions into commercial enterperise, elitist enclave and distant from Indian socio-economic-cultural problems.
Member Delhi University EC, Seema Das described it as reactivation of drain theory, by which these educational East India Companys will try to plunder the vast education sector. The social justice concerns have been totally ignored which is very important in our context where higher education is very effective means for social change," she added.
The UGC has opened the doors for foreign University not for welfare of students but they are to act like coaching institutes. There is no emphasis on research and innovation. The difficult surmounts because the present government is moving away from strengthening Indian Universities under NEP 2020.
National In-charge of AADTA Aditya Narayan Misra said that the draft Regulations is a reflection of less funding for education by Central government and will be in accordance with the motive of New Education Policy 2020.
Meanwhile elaborating the draft regulations, AADTA Media Coordinator Rajesh Jha said that there is no provision for caste based/Economic based/Minority based/Armed Forces based/ Divyang based/ Kashmiri migrants/Representation based/Women reservation in (a) student admissions (b) Faculty requirements i.e No reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PH/Armed force/Women in admissions and appointments.
He said there is no clarity on syllabus and its content and there will be no elected representative in governance or the Governing body.
According to him there is no clarity on regularity mechanism for fee, on range of tuition fee/development fee/Overall fee,no provision for fee confession for needy/Weaker section/Deprived class students.
He further said that there is complete Subjectivity and ambiguity in eligibility for opening campus in India ( Regulations point number 3.1 anf 3.2). The loopholes are so wide they can be easily be misused by substandard and fly by night operators to gain entry, he quipped.
Mr Jha raised doubts that in case of failure of foreign institution in its operations, how UGC will take care of students studying in these institution?
He alleged that there is no subjectivity and ambiguity in procedure for approval: no clarity on constitution and composition of UGC standing committee for monitoring/Approval granting for setting up and operation of campuses of foreign HEI in India. Subjectivity and lack of clarity in procedure merits, credibility, strength etc( Point 4.3 in Regulations) and limited time permission (Point 4.7) i.e for 10 years were matter of grave concern as it will restrict institution to open and start courses which will generate more money but no attention on research on area having social implications and less profit making.
There is no clarity on admission procedure and Qualifications and the link between tuition fee and Scholarship (Point 5.1) will put extra burden on students, he alleged.
Mr Jha further said that the complete autonomy in appointment of faculty and staff and their Service conditions, salary is dangerous. There is no mechanism and time span is available for redressal of grievances for students as well as teaching and nonteaching staff, he maintained.
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