For 14 years now,top education panel defunct

As per the Maharashtra Universities Act,1994,MSCHE is a 16-member committee with the chief minister as its chairman and the higher and technical education minister its vice-chairman. The other members include three MLAs,the minister of state for higher education,secretaries of higher education,medical education,planning,finance and sports,one each of teachers’ and Principals’ representatives,four eminent educationists and three vice-chancellors of state universities.

“MSCHE shall be the authority of the state government in charge of the state’s higher education. The council shall be the planning,monitoring,coordinating and evaluating authority and shall act as a think tank for higher education,including technical,medical and professional education,” says the Act.

The state government,through a Government Resolution (GR) on April 16,1999,set up MSCHE,comprising over 40 members. Dr K K Theckedath was a member of the first and the only MSCHE that was formed in 1999.

“The council was formed in 1999 to advise government on policy issues,funding etc,but it has not held a single meeting so far and has eventually become non-functional. It is the lack of democratic will within the government that such an important committee remains non-functional. The government does not want people to say ‘no’ to their policies. They know we will oppose their policies that are not good and so they never called a meeting of the council. I even sent a letter to them,but it was never answered,” said Theckedath,who is currently the Convenor of the Coordination Committee of Teachers’ Organisation,Brihanmumbai.

“This is supposed to be the umbrella body of higher education,from which everything must flow. This is the highest body in higher education and it is lying efunct,” said C R Sadashivan,who was the president of Maharashtra University and College Teachers Organisation (MFUCTO) in 1999,and is currently the president of Bombay University College Teachers’ Union.

“Nowadays teachers are being appointed with a meagre salary of Rs 5,000 a month. About 20 per cent of the teachers in the state are unqualified. Hundreds of fake colleges and sub-standard colleges are coming up. All these effect the quality of students that pass out every year because there are no good teachers to teach them. The functionality of this body is necessary if we want to put higher education in order,” added Sadashivan.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Tope said,“I took charge of the higher and technical education department in 2009. In my tenure,I had on two occasions written to the Chief Minister,seeking his time for a meeting. But on both occasions,it was turned down. We have noted the issue and are in the process of taking action.”

However,he was quick to added: “Even though the CM has not called a meeting,he has always guided and given directives to us on all matters every year. It is as good as taking a meeting. I have written to my department to constitute a new council immediately. We will prepare new names for the council withing 15 to 20 days. I am sure,the CM will be eager to convene a meeting this time.