New Delhi: The NDA government has embarked upon reforming the regulatory bodies governing higher education in the country in keeping with the upcoming challenges and fulfilling the needs of the future.
"I am happy to share with you be it UGC, be it AICTE, or the National Council for Teachers Education understanding the Indian needs to redefine its destiny, by redefining how we manage education.
"We have undertaken review of most of our regulatory bodies where as we can design a path foreward, which is not only wholistic in nature, but also takes cognisance of needs of the future," HRD Minister Smriti Irani today said.
Addressing the FICCI Higher Education Summit here, Irani said, she as the HRD Minister, wants to "redefine India's destiny" through the reform initiative in the education sector.
Her comments came in the backdrop of her ministry setting up separate committees to review the functioning of UGC, AICTE and NCTE.
"There are many who see education in India as a challenge. I look upon it as an opportunity to redefine India's destiny. There have been many comments...Many people expressing their anguish about the need for reform.
"I am happy to share with you that just in last six months with understanding those challenges, put forth many inititives to see how reform can be brought in the functioning of regulators," she said in the presence of dignitaries including South Carolina Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley and UK Minister of State for Universities Greg Clark.
The HRD Ministry has already set up a panel to restructure UGC, governing higher education in the country, thus putting in motion an initiative to go for an overhaul in the higher education sector.
The AICTE restructuring committee will also look into revamping of the grant distribution function of AICTE for timely utilisation of funds and measures for enhancing quality research in technical education.
