HRD to evaluate performance of central varsities

NEWDELHI: THE EVALUATION WILL DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF FUNDING CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES RECEIVE FROM THE GOVT

For the first time, central universities across the country will undergo a performance review by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) in October that will determine the extent of funding they receive from the government.

The ministry has asked central universities across the country to furnish details about academic progress made by them so far, including percentage of classes actually held (over scheduled) in each programme, percentage of the syllabus covered (as against scheduled), the number of exams scheduled and actually conducted and the number of exam results declared.

The ministry has sent a letter this effect to all central universities on September 7, a copy of which has been accessed by HT.

They have also been asked to give information on number of grievances received in the first quarter (July to September) from students and the number resolved. MHRD will conduct the review of all central universities after receiving the responses.

The review is taking place in the context of an MoU that was signed between universities, the MHRD and the University Grants Commission HT had on September 1 reported how each central university, except Delhi University, had signed the MoU detailing the targets they wanted to achieve in the first quarter; funds to the universities were to be allocated on the basis of their performance in meeting the targets.

The MHRD had made the signing of the MoU mandatory and asked the universities to provide details of the vision they had, the objectives of the institute, student-teacher ratio, fees, and research output. These MoUs were to function as an action plan for the institutions for this and the upcoming academic year.

“It has been decided by the ministry to review the implementation status of all the performance parameters, output targets and programme of work indicated by the university in the said MoU… You are requested to undertake a performance review as on 30.9.2018 at your level at the end of the first quarter of the current academic session, of all the parameters at the institution level and thereafter furnish the status report to MHRD,” reads the letter dated September 7.

All the universities have been asked to provide details on their students’ grievance redressal system (both online and offline). They have also been asked to provide an update on the status of infrastructure projects currently underway in the varsity.

“All universities are set up to function autonomously and they all have internal mechanism to do a performance review and undertake course correction if required. The idea of a performance review is certainly good. The MHRD certainly funds these institutes and if there are complaints, those should be addressed by appropriate bodies but they shouldn’t get into such activities on a daily basis,” said SS Mantha, academician and former chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education.

Shivpal Singh Yadav, younger brother of Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, had been sulking for about two years. Earlier this month, as the nation edged closer to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he decided to virtually split the party, which his brother formed in 1992 and placed at the centrestage of politics in Uttar Pradesh, by announcing the formation of a platform he intends to use to bring like-minded political groups together.

Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seen by observers to have extended tacit support to Shivpal , 63, the estranged uncle of Mualayam Singh’s son and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Shivpal’s formation of the Samajwadi Secular Morcha is opportune for the BJP, which has been trying to forge caste-based tie-ups ahead of the general election to counter a grand alliance of opposition parties, notably the SP and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The party’s UP leaders, headed by CM Yogi Adityanath, are playing up the family feud, attacking SP chief, Akhilesh Yadav, 45, whose elevation to the party’s presidency in 2017 had triggered a generational shift in the SP. He poses a bigger challenge to the BJP than Shivpal does.

Logically speaking, the virtual split in the SP weakens Akhilesh and his claim on seats during seat-sharing talks with potential poll partners. The BJP is all smiles; even a slight dent in the Yadav vote bank can turn the tables on the SP in Yadav-dominated constituencies. How?

Completely marginalised in the BJP dispensation, the Yadavs, along with the Jatavs (BSP chief Mayawati’s committed

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