Question

Autonomy and accountability are two sides of the same coin. Justify the statementin the context of the university system. (600 words)

Answer 1

Looking back, during the last six decades, the Indian higher education system had undergone many important changes; the most significant being its unprecedented growth and its consequent transformation from an elite system to a mass system. (1.2) The Sphere of higher education has been marked by a phenomenal expansion during the five decades, after Independence. Today, Higher education in India is imparted through 620 Universities and equivalent institutions. Total number of Colleges in the country is about 35,000. (1.3) The higher education system in India includes both private and public universities. Public universities are supported by the Government of India and the state governments, while private universities are mostly supported by various bodies and societies. Universities in India are recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which draws its power from the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. In addition, 16 Professional Councils are established, controlling different aspects of accreditation and coordination. The types of universities controlled by the UGC include Central universities, State universities, Deemed universities and Private universities. In addition to these universities, other institutions are granted the permission to autonomously award degrees, and while not called "university" by name, act as such. They usually fall under the administrative control of the Department of Higher Education. In official documents they are called "autonomous bodies", "university-level institutions", or even simply "other central institutions", (Wikipedia, 2013). (1.4) The different commissions and committees that have examined the Indian higher education system, after independence, have identified the maladies that affect it and have also suggested remedies. However, we have failed to follow up on the recommendations. The maladies identified by the Kothari Commission over three decades ago still exist. The latest example of our indifferent approach is the half-hearted manner in which the Programme of Action, 1992 is being implemented. (1.5) The Kothari Commission emphasized that the proper sphere of Institution autonomy is in three fields; (1) Selection of students, (2) Appointment and promotion of teachers, (3) Determination of courses of study, methods of teaching and selection of areas and problems of research. (1.6) The National Policy on Education visualized that higher education should become dynamic as never before. One of the main features of the programmes and strategies to impart the necessary dynamism to the higher education system consist of the Development of Autonomous Colleges and Departments. The system of affiliated colleges does not provide autonomy to deserving colleges to frame curricula, courses of studies, or their own system of evaluation. The apathy of the Union Government as well as State Governments has been well known to the Higher Educational Planners and Academicians and even sometimes helpless Governors of the States, who are de jure Chancellors of Universities, established by State enactments.