Colleges are facing autonomy trap

Though the UGC and the MHRD have long advocated autonomous status for colleges, the strong impetus given to the move now is causing the staff and students of these institutions deep anxiety. Recent protests against autonomy in colleges of Delhi University are a case in point. With reports alleging that the PMO has ‘suggested’ to several managements of university affiliated colleges to move towards autonomous status for their top government-aided and un-aided colleges, the push towards autonomy is becoming a shove. Ironically, after working their hearts out to secure high grades/rankings for their colleges, the teachers and students feel trapped by the turn of events.

Autonomy, we are told, is needed primarily because it is becoming increasingly difficult for a university to manage the special needs of a large number of its affiliated colleges. It is argued that the rules/regulations of the affiliating university are choking the growth of colleges, and that the latent ‘potential for excellence’ of colleges can be unleashed only when their connection to the university or the UGC or the central/ state government stands severed. But, the staff and students suspect that autonomy will provide ‘ease of business’ to organisations eager to enter the education sector. And more importantly, autonomy presents an escape route to the government already curtailing grants in favour of loans, to discontinue funding of higher education altogether.

DILUTION OF CRITERIA

It is reported that the earlier criteria fixed by the UGC for the grant of autonomy are being overly diluted. Now, there will be no need for a college to be top ranked to apply for autonomy. Now, just a plain accreditation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) or National Board of Accreditation (NBA) will suffice. The earlier requirement of even a minimum Grade ‘B’ in accreditation is being done away with. Even the earlier mandatory on-the-spot inspection of the college is not necessary. The decision on autonomy is to be taken on the perceived ‘reputation of the college’, rather than any empirical data.

Under autonomy, the affiliating university, the central/state government and the UGC will have little role in regulating the affairs of a college. The new scheme promises that to be less ‘prescriptive with minimal regulation’, in administrative, academic and even financial spheres. Autonomy will be granted to ‘college managements’ in matters such as fixing of fee, appointment of teachers, assessment of students, courses on offer and their syllabi, award of degrees, etc. Clearly, all autonomy is actually meant to be exercised by the college managements with teachers and students at the receiving end.

In actual practice even today, with all the so-called throttling university/UGC checks, many college managements continue to get around UGC rules/regulations at will. Experience shows that the UGC is toothless as it cannot and does not compel managements to follow ‘rules/regulations/ guidelines’ that are teacher or student-friendly.

STUDENTS, TEACHERS AT THE RECEIVING END

All measures favouring teachers and students are classified conveniently as ‘recommendatory’ in nature, whereas those imposing conditions on them become ‘mandatory’. The teachers dread that their service and working conditions will be hit still more adversely, and the students stand dismayed as they realise that their fee and fate will be in the hands of managements solely motivated by commercial interests.

Oddly, the new framework of ‘minimal regulation’ asserts that the parent university and the state government will depute their representatives to serve on the statutory bodies of an autonomous college.

These nominees, meant to supervise the colleges are likely to end up much like the ‘independent directors’ on the boards of companies, with all the attendant pitfalls so common in corporate governance. It will be intriguing to see how the universities manage their new regulatory avatar ‘proactively’, when they have been accused of failing to do so earlier because of the logistics involved.

A shocking explanation proffered by regulatory agencies is that from now on the free play of market forces will decide the fate of colleges that fail to provide quality education, or are unable to fulfil their statutory obligations. It is now acceptable that ‘laggards’ like the Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital will face inevitable closure. Appallingly, the shutting down of an institute is being so flippantly talked about.

A LOSING PROPOSITION FOR GOVT VARSITIES

That our public universities, like Panjab University and others are facing acute shortage of funds is no secret. Not many universities are in a position to forego the crores of rupees they earn from the affiliated colleges as examination fee, affiliation and other annual charges. If they allow the affiliated colleges to gain autonomy, then who will compensate them for their loss remains to be seen. As it is, the UGC, the central/ state governments and other funding agencies do not take kindly to any initiatives taken by these supposedly ‘autonomous’ universities that involve any financial commitment.

If this is the treatment meted out to public universities of repute, one shudders to think about the financial fate awaiting governmentaided colleges.

Grant of autonomy is being viewed as a step in the larger design by the government towards complete withdrawal from the field of higher education, leaving it open to the vagaries of private enterprise. It seems that the government is trying to divest itself of its social responsibility of supporting, funding and regulating higher education. This will jeopardise the larger goal of inclusive growth perpetuating the existing social and economic divisions in our society and putting public peace at risk.

IT IS ARGUED THAT THE RULES OF THE AFFILIATING UNIVERSITY ARE CHOKING THE GROWTH OF COLLEGES AND NOT LETTING THEM EXCEL TO THEIR POTENTIAL. BUT, STUDENTS SUSPECT THAT THE AUTONOMY WILL PROVIDE ‘EASE OF BUSINESS’ TO PRIVATE PLAYERS