Higher education backbone of society
Quality of education is the spine of every nation. The superior the quality, better will be the nation. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) born in 1994, assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in the country. Its motto is to make quality the defining element of higher education in India through a combination of self and external quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance initiatives.
The right to education is not only access to education but also the right to get education of high quality. Education must be easily available, simply accessible, enthusiastically acceptable and effortlessly adaptable.
Complexity of education system requires a holistic view with a national framework that clearly outlines fundamental elements of quality assurance, the core of quality education. Unarguably, quality education provides learners with capabilities to engage in respectable livelihoods, become economically productive, contribute meaningfully to societies, enhance well being and sustenance resulting in national growth.
This is a must for nation like ours having millions of students from diverse socio-politico-economic strata, cultures and backgrounds. Poor education standards cause large divides in demand and supply of skilled or qualified professionals which adversely impacts national satisfaction, enthusiasm and success.
Quality education invariably includes those ready to engage, participate and learn, and supported in learning by their families, communities; environments that are healthy, safe, protective, gender-sensitive, and provide adequate resources and facilities; content reflected in relevant curricula and materials for the acquisition of basic life skills, and knowledge in such areas as gender, health, nutrition, disease prevention, basic technology and peace.
Outcomes that encompass knowledge, skills, aptitudes, attitudes, are linked to national goals for education. Quality education is largely dependent on good facilities, professional managers, trained facilitators, expert faculty, competent staff and stakeholders. Quality standards must be applied to both public and private sector education, and be backed by a comprehensive regulatory regime.
Ensuring quality education is most vital for success of the future generation and plays a large role in improving public health, civic participation, political interest and happiness. In our society full of diversity, ideologies and opinions, higher education is perceived differently by different people.
Higher education imparts in-depth knowledge and understanding so as to advance the students to new frontiers of knowledge in different walks of life. It develops the ability of students to question and seek truth and makes them competent to critique on contemporary issues.
It not only broadens their intellectual powers within a narrow specialisation, but also gives them a wider perspective of the world around.
Higher education is the backbone of any society. Quality of higher education decides the quality of human resources in a country. The core values of NAAC for higher education system in India envisage: national development, fostering global competitiveness, including ethical values, promote use of technology and create an atmosphere and quest for excellence. Our policy makers need to focus on this aspect to strengthen the quality of education in India.