हिंदी
Chandigarh, December 17 2021
Haryana Education Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal informed that State Universities are autonomous bodies, which are governed by the provisions of their respective Acts. These Acts provide substantial autonomy to the universities in matters of administration and education. The state government provides complete independence to the state universities in academic and administrative matters. There is complete transparency in the affairs of universities.
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Sh. Kanwar Pal was replying to calling attention motions brought during the winter session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.
He said that the most important factor in the success of higher education institutions is the quality and commitment of its teachers. Recognizing the importance of teachers in achieving the goals of higher education, various initiatives have been taken over the years to streamline recruitment and career progression and to ensure equal representation from different groups in teacher recruitment. The government is committed to provide the best teachers in higher education institutions.
The Education Minister pointed out that before now the university administration was mainly engaged in the recruitment of staff and not much attention was paid to academic reforms and research. Faculty plays an important role in the building of an institution. The core of a college or university is its faculty i.e. teaching and non-teaching staff. The main commitment of the State Government is to make available the prescribed number of faculty in colleges and universities. The directions issued by the state government on November 8 are self-explanatory and do not affect the autonomy of the university in any way. This step will provide relief to the university from the intricacies involved in the selection process. At the same time, the role of the university in selection is a significant one.
He said that it is clear in these instructions that the Vice Chancellor is involved in all the process of selection. He will chair the selection committee and the committees have been made more comprehensive. Even in the search cum selection committee for the appointment of Registrar, Finance Officer, Controller of Examinations and Librarian, the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor has been suggested. Haryana Public Service Commission and Haryana Staff Selection Commission, wherever necessary, will conduct written examination and the selection committee will be headed by the Vice-Chancellor. Two academic experts in the concerned field will be nominated by the Haryana Public Service Commission; one academic specialist to be nominated by the Haryana State Council of Higher Education and one specialist to be nominated by the Chancellor.
The Education Minister said that all the Vice Chancellors were consulted while taking this decision. Further, the state government will not make the selection itself, but the work will be entrusted to the Haryana Public Service Commission and the Haryana Staff Selection Commission which are also autonomous constitutional bodies. This decision will not affect the essential qualifications and norms prescribed by the UGC. Apart from this, the UGC has recommended that the Vice-Chancellor be the chairman of the selection committee.
The state government has also made the vice-chancellor the chairman of the selection committees. Moreover, timely advertisement will be given and transparency and dynamic selection process will be adopted and vacancies will be filled in a time bound manner. This process will also be favorable for an applicant who used to apply multiple times for the same position in different universities. With the centralization of appointment, candidates will now be able to make only one application.
Thus the decision of the State Government is well thought out and futuristic and will not affect the autonomy of the State University. The State Government and Higher Education Department are continuously encouraging the universities to provide autonomy and make them independent in their functioning and administrative matters. Apart from this, the budget for higher education has also increased by 125 percent in the last 5 years which shows the commitment of the state government to improve the educational scenario in Haryana.
He informed that the State Government has taken several measures to expand and improve the capacity and quality in higher education. Out of total 173 government colleges in the state, 61 colleges are exclusively for girls. In addition, there are 97 state aided colleges, out of which 35 are for girls. The state government has a policy of at least one college within a radius of 20 km. The Haryana government has invested huge resources in building the comprehensive infrastructure of state-owned degree colleges and state universities.
Simultaneously the active intervention of the state has encouraged the private sector to be a partner in making education accessible to all our citizens. The State Universities have been established under the Acts passed by the Vidhan Sabha. At present 22 state universities have been established by the state government. There is a central university in Jat-Pali, Mahendragarh. In addition, there are 23 private universities, 01 institute of eminence and 9 deemed universities.
The Education Minister informed that the year 2020 has been a milestone for the implementation of National Education Policy 2020 in Haryana. National Education Policy is a revolutionary policy which will change the face and landscape of higher education in the country. Haryana has been a leading state in implementing this education policy. The policy envisages empowering universities and colleges to develop as centers of excellence. NEP is to be implemented by 2030 but Haryana Government has decided to implement it only till 2025 and many major initiatives have already been taken in this regard.
