* Infrastructure development at stake
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The non-accreditation of a large number of institutions for higher education across the State under the NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) may spell disaster for the development of infrastructure in such institutions under the NEP (New Education Policy)-2020.
According to NEP-2020, NAAC accreditation with good score is one of the important factors for the survival of higher educational institutions in the future. "To receive RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) grants for infrastructure development by the higher education institutes, a valid NAAC accreditation is the only valid criterion. Therefore, all concerned are directed to take necessary measures for NAAC accreditation for their institution with good score," said State Commissioner and Secretary, Higher Education, Preetom Saikia, in an office memorandum on November 11.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of High Education has asked all government and provincialized colleges of the State to take measures for accreditation from the NAAC.
As on date, Assam has 208 colleges and six universities that have accreditation from the NAAC. On the other hand, there are 1,016 institutes of higher education — including government, provincialized and private ones. Of them, two are Central universities; 13 State universities; one State open university; five private universities; one each law and spiritual university; 425 government and provincialized colleges; 292 degree government and provincialized colleges, among others.
The primary objective of NAAC is assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutes in the country. For this, NAAC uses a well-defined transparent and ICT (Information and Communication Technology)-based methodology, which is similar to that used by many global quality assurance agencies.
Earlier in 2018, the Directorate of Higher Education had asked the higher educational institutes of the State to clear NAAC accreditation. Apart from RUSA funds, the UGC (University Grant Commission) has also made assessment and accreditation mandatory for the higher educational institutes; and the outcome has been linked to their financial incentives.
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