Knowledge panel clarifies stand on reforms to HRD

On January 12 this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told the National Knowledge Commission, headed by Sam Pitroda, to 8220;build consensus8221; on the ideas proposed by them on higher education reforms. Unable to get the key player 8212; the HRD ministry 8212; on board, NKC has now called a truce. The Commission members met Singh on Monday and gave a 15-point clarification to him 8212; a copy is with The Indian Express. They have 8220;clarified8221; their stance on critical issues like entry of foreign universities, caste-based quotas, fee hikes, private participation, commercial use of university land 8212; issues on which they were at loggerheads with the HRD minister.

On caste-based reservations, NKC 8212; which had opposed OBC quotas with a 6-2 verdict last year 8212; says that 8220;reservations are essential but they are a part, and one form of, affirmative action.8221; Suggesting a 8220;deprivation index8221; for students, the Commission said that this system serves the dual purpose of considering various disadvantages and 8220;ensure that a reserved category student who has otherwise enjoyed other benefits does not get great preference at the time of admissions.8221;

Allaying apprehensions of the HRD ministry that implementation of NKC8217;s recommendations on fees will lead to an exorbitant increase in the cost of higher education, making it inaccessible to large sections of society, it says: 8220;NKC proposes a gradual rationalisation of fees over a period of time which will not result in an exorbitant increase, but will rather ensure that those who can afford to pay, do so while education is subsidised for those who cannot pay.8221;

The meeting between the NKC members and the HRD minister, which lasted for almost an hour, also discussed the controversial issue of private participation. The note says: 8220; NKC does not encourage setting up profit-motive educational institutions by private players.8221;

However, it says 8220;an anomalous situation has arisen whereby in three professions 8212; engineering, medicine and management 8212; there have been a de facto privatisation of education so that two-thirds to three-fourths of the seats are in private institutions.8221;

It adds: 8220;The present system of allotment of land, where political patronage is implicit, discourages genuine educational entrepreneurs and encourages real estate developers in disguise. It should be possible to set up new institutions as public-private partnerships where the government provides the land and the private sector provides the finances.8221;

On the entry of foreign universities, NKC says that 8220;we must formulate appropriate policies for the entry of foreign institutions into India and the promotion of Indian institutions abroad. Such policies must ensure that there is an incentive for good institutions and a disincentive for sub-standard institutions to come to India.8221;

8220;A level playing field should be ensured and all rules that apply to domestic institutions should also be made applicable to foreign institutions,8221; the NKC adds.

On using land owned by universities, NKC wanted to generate revenues through 8220;innovative uses of land consistent with the objectives of the universities. There is considerable room to think about the use of physical assets in the possession of universities.8221;