CABE backs higher education authority

The Central Advisory Board of Education CABE on Saturday threw its weight behind the proposed National Commission for Higher Education amp; Research NCHER an overarching body that will bring all higher education related issues under a single authority. The CABE also endorsed the inclusion of medical education under NCHER despite the Health Ministry8217;s opposition to the proposal.

CABE which has all state education ministers and eminent educationists on its board has,with this seal of approval,paved the way for fast tracking the Bill. The legislation is currently at the draft stage with the HRD Ministry having set up a special task force to go into the matter.

Consensus had so far been eluding the NCHER Bill. State governments have by and large endorsed the NCHER document drafted by the task force. Some education ministers did raise some issues and they will be submitting their views in writing to the Task Force over the next one month. Once that is done,the Task force will revise and submit a final draft to the HRD ministry which will take a final view and then take the proposal to the Cabinet,8221; HRD Minister Kapil Sibal,who chairs the CABE,said.