Annual audit of colleges to begin from January end
OBJECTIVE Move aims to address issues of faculty crunch, poor quality of education
JAIPUR: The higher education department will begin annual audit and evaluation of state colleges from January end to compel them to address issues of faculty crunch, poor quality of education and research, inadequate infrastructure and poor performance.
The colleges will be evaluated on six parameters – teaching and learning, research and professional practices, infrastructure and learning resources, student support and participation, financial resources and utilization and commitment, leadership and management, said Pradeep Borad, commissioner, higher education.
Based on the audit, the colleges will be ranked and their development plans will be drafted, he said.
The rankings of colleges will be released in February.
The move will also help the colleges prepare for National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation, which is compulsory for getting funds under the Rashtriya Uchc h a t a r S h i k s h a Abhi y a n (RUSA).
Under the campaign, a grant of ₹1 crore is provided to each government college. The centre has linked the grant to NAAC accreditation and colleges will have to get at least a B Grade to be eligible for the money.
There are 290 colleges in Rajasthan. Of these, around 120130 have NAAC accreditation.
The situation of higher education in the state can also be gauged from the fact that no government university or college features in the country’s top 100 institutions as ranked by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in the National Institutional Ranking Framework.
Borad said the higher education department wants to ensure that all institutions are ready for the NAAC process and it is easier for them to comply.
Under the RUSA guidelines, all state Institutions have to get NAAC accreditation by end of March 2020, reduce the studentteacher ratio to 15:1 by end of March 2 0 2 0 , i ncr e a s e t he National GER to 32% by March 2022 and ensure more inclusivity and diversity with inclusion of disadvantaged groups (SC/ST/ Women).
NL Gupta, general secretary, Rajasthan University and College Teachers Association (RUCTA) (Rashtriya) said the audit seems to be another exercise that would be limited only on paper. “The government has put 33 nodal officers in-charge of each district and they have a large set-up at the district and division level as well. It’s surprising that even after one year they haven’t been able to collect data on colleges,” he said.
Gupta said that around 300 posts of teachers are vacant in government colleges and 85 percent do not have principals, but government has not initiated any appointment.
He said around 90 percent colleges do not have librarians and physical training instructors (PTIS) and around 80-90 do not have their own buildings.
“What would have been more appreciable is if the government had identified some of these colleges and promised to give them faculty and resources,” Gupta said.
Rajasthan University and College Teachers Association general secretary Vijay Airi said the audit was a necessity if colleges wanted to improve their overall status and become eligible for funds from RUSA. He too raised concerns about the dismal situation in colleges. “Small colleges and those located in remote areas will struggle to meet the norms. They do not have faculty, infrastructure, equipment or resources. It will be a difficult task for them,” he said.