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Monday, July 7, 2014

Council established to usher reforms in higher education

GANGTOK, 06 July: With the view to usher reforms in the education sector, particularly in the higher education sector, the state government has now established the State Higher Education Council [SHEC].
The SHEC, established under the HRD Department is to bring in transformative reforms in the higher education sector and to regulate activities of all government and private institutes of higher education, franchise centres and private learning centres.
It is also expected that with the establishment of the SHEC there will be radical a improvement in the State Gross Enrolment Ratio. With the establishment of the Council it is expected that there will now be academic and financial accountability of universities and other institutions of higher education in the state. The SHEC has the Minister, HRD Department as its Chairman.
The establishment of such a Council in Sikkim has opened up a range of possibilities as far as ushering in reforms in the education sector is concerned. There will now be a State Higher Education Plan developed by the Council which will be to achieve accelerated growth and equitable development of the higher education sector.
It is also expected that with the establishment of the Council the state can consider setting up of State Academic and Accreditation Council and bring about reforms in accreditation norms. Another reform which the HRD department is also now considering is the preparation of guidelines for establishing a State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) Commission for state relevant subjects only.
The council will also look into the possibility of making reforms in the standard of examinations conducted by the universities in order to improve the standards. Reform in academics is also expected. Besides these it is charged with the maintenance of quality in curriculum, promotion of research and innovation and promotion of training and development of teachers.
A significant task with the Council is the coordination of activities between the different Universities; this has been a feature lacking in the present education structure in the state given the fact that Sikkim has many universities operating in its area. However the modalities of this coordination are not known yet.
The Council will also be the body which will govern the setting up of new institutes and universities in the state and be responsible for the implementation of UGC norms and guidelines, Acts and Rules in all the universities. Even the functions of franchise institutes have been brought under its purview.
The programmes of learning centres will now be coordinated by the Council and monitored as well. It will also promote and monitor publication of quality text books, monographs and reference books.
All grants for higher education from the central funding agencies will be received by the Council and it will advise the government on strategic investments in higher education. There is to be adequate manpower necessary for the discharge of its functions allotted to the Council; this is likely to be by re-deployment of manpower on deputation based on specific requirement.

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