TN varsities in a fix on NEP after series of circulars from UGC

The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), on recently releasing the NEP, had sought the University Grants Commission (UGC) to monitor and instruct all the institutions in implementing the NEP with help of the State government. Accordingly, the UGC had started communicating with all the management of universities and colleges in Tamil Nadu through circulars and notices on the progress of the NEP on their respective campus. A senior official from the Higher Education Department, seeking anonymity, said: “In October alone, the Commission had sent five notifications to all vice-chancellors and principals of the institutions in the State”.

“However, the institutions could not carry out this on its own since the State government had failed to come out with its detailed stance on the NEP,” he said adding “since the UGC had also instructed the colleges to upload the details on its website on the action taken against its circular, many management of the institutions expressed concern whether the Central funds might be withheld if they failed to follow the UGC directive”. Stating that the State government is also preparing a detailed report on the pros and cons of the NEP, which would be submitted to the MHRD, the official said: “The institutions should have to wait for the government’s response to the Centre before carrying out any process to implement the NEP.” However, he said that as per a few instructions of the UGC, the universities here could carry out works only in connection with inviting feedback and suggestions from stakeholders on the NEP.

Pointing out that the State government is looking into all the aspects in the NEP, including entrance test for higher studies, reservation policy and fund allocation before coming to a decision, the official said: “The government will not implement anything that would be against State’s rights with regard to the implementation of the NEP”.