TOI: Pvt agencies to accredit edu bodies?: August 19, 2009

Pvt agencies to accredit edu bodies?

Govt Plans Bill Which Says Sebi-Like Watchdog Will Monitor Them……..Akshaya Mukul

New Delhi: The monopoly of government-run accreditation agencies for institutions of higher education will soon be over as the HRD ministry has circulated a cabinet note opening up the sector to multiple accreditation agencies, mostly private, with their action being monitored by a regulator.

The National Authority for Regulation in Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2009, currently with various ministries for their views, provides for setting up of a five-member National Authority for Regulation in Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions (NARAHEI), somewhat on the lines of Sebi, that will register accreditation agencies. To ensure transparency, the Bill envisages that once these members demit office after their fiveyear term they would not be eligible for further employment in any higher educational institution promoted by the Central or state government.

According to a copy with the law ministry, accreditation agencies will accredit institutions on host of outcomes like teaching, learning and research, human resource and research infrastructure, placement, governance structures and course curricula. They will also have to inform stakeholders including students and employers about the quality of the higher educational institution.

Significantly, every institution will have to get accreditated and make public how it has been rated by the agency. The existing National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will also turn into independent agencies competing with the others. Those seeking registeration as accreditation agencies will have to apply to the proposed NARAHEI along with documents detailing the mechanism for detecting any potential conflict of interest, financial transparency, a reliable public disclosure policy and a manual of procedures and processes. These documents have to subscribe to the Code of Ethics laid down by the NARAHEI. After the receipt of application, the NARAHEI will issue a public notice and place the application and all supporting documents on its website for 60 days for comments. It will also be forwarded to the state government concerned. If the NARAHEI gives the certificate to an agency it can limit the subject area. The accreditation agency will also not be permitted to change its ownership without the approval of the NARAHEI.

The NARAHEI will have the power to revoke the certificate given to an accreditation agency in case the latter makes wilful default, breaks any of the terms, its financial position is weak and fails to fully discharge its functions. The entire process from issuing notice to revocation after hearing the accreditation agency should not take more than 30 days.

COURSE CORRECTION

* HRD ministry plans a Bill to set up a National Authority for Regulation in Higher Educational Institutes that will register accreditation agencies

* Agencies will accredit institutions on outcomes like teaching, learning and research, human resource and course curricula

* Agencies will have to inform stakeholders, including students, about the quality of the higher educational institution