The Ministry of Human Resource Development has recently put up the Draft National Education Policy on its website and other sources requesting comments and inputs from general public (citizens). The draft was developed by a committee chaired by Shri. K. Kasturirangan (Former Chairman - ISRO). It is for the first time that a comprehensive education policy has been developed since 1986.
The draft is divided into 4 major parts :
- School Education
- Higher Education
- Additional Key Focus Areas and
- Transforming Education
In this article, I would like to share my key takeaways from the Part 2 : "Higher Education" of the "Draft". The "Draft" suggests the following key changes and inclusions in the present system of Higher Education in India:
A. Objective of increasing Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education (HEI) from current 25.8% to 50% by 2035.
B. Revamping of Higher Education system by creating multidisciplinary (MD) higher education institutions. Moving towards a HE system consisting of large multidisciplinary universities and colleges each of which will aim to have a upward of 5,000 or more students.This multidisciplinary system will help breaking down artificial silos between various disciplines enabling students to develop both artistically and analytically. An university will be called as a Multi-disciplinary University if it offers at least 2 programs in the arts and humanities, at least two in science and mathematics and at least one in social sciences.
C. The "Draft" puts more emphasis on moving to / establishing Large Multidisciplinary Universities. This will be carried out swiftly in a systematic manner in three ways:
1. consolidating and restructuring existing institutions
2. building new ones including establishing new world class model institution of this type across the country
3. establishing at least one large high quality multidisciplinary HEI in / close to every district
