Now,NCTE chief faces probe

After the CBI unearthed massive corruption among top brass of the All India Council for Technical Education AICTE,it is the turn of the National Council...

After the CBI unearthed massive corruption among top brass of the All India Council for Technical Education AICTE,it is the turn of the National Council for Teachers Education NCTE to come under the scanner with the Human Resources Development HRD Ministry marking a vigilance inquiry against its chairman M A Siddiqui for allegedly giving inappropriate recognition to an institute. The inquiry comes soon after the ministry sought Siddiquis comments on Congress MP G Harsha Kumars complaints that the Innovative College of Education in Greater Noida was running more than the sanctioned number of courses.

Though Siddiqui confirmed that there was a complaint after which they sought his comments,he did have any information on the vigilance inquiry. Sources in the HRD ministry,however,confirmed that a probe has been initiated. The NCTE is a statutory body performing regulatory functions,ensuring maintenance of standards in teachers education and preventing proliferation of sub-standard institutions.

In fact,the Amalapuram MP had initially complained to the NCTE itself. Following the complaint,we sent an inspection team to the institute. The committees report said only two courses,BE.d and BCA,were being run there as reported by the institute and things were satisfactory. The same report was sent in reply to the MP concerned, Siddiqui told The Indian Express.

Dissatisfied with the reply,Kumar wrote to the HRD Ministry calling it a breach of privilege. He alleged that the institute was running over ten courses without due approvals or requisite infrastructure. Following the complaint,the HRD ministry sent a note to the NCTE chairman asking for his comments.

I have told the ministry that this was what was reported by the institute to the inspection team. Meanwhile,a reinspection of the institute was ordered last month. I,however,have no information or intimation of any vigilance enquiry in the matter, Siddiqui said.

Trying to defend himself,Siddiqui said he had taken a host of corrective measures,including closure of some 400 colleges after they were found violating norms.

Incidentally,last year,social activist Anna Hazare had written to Sonia Gandhi alleging large-scale corruption at NCTE. The PMO had even asked the HRD Ministry to explain why no substantive action was taken against NCTE despite several complaints.

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Earlier,a committee,constituted by the HRD Ministry,led by former Education Secretary Sudeep Banerjee,had suggested that the body be repealed,saying the Diploma in Education D.Ed and Bachelors in Education B.Ed courses could be easily conducted by the universities. The HRD ministry even circulated a Cabinet note on the same in May 2007,but then the matter was suddenly buried. More recently,the Prof Yashpal-led committee on rejuvenation of higher education had also advised that NCTE and other regulators be scrapped and a single independent body be instituted.