In a major step towards furthering the education reforms agenda of the UPA-II, the Centre’s proposal to set up NCHER, an overarching body in higher education, received support of state governments at the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting on Saturday. At the CABE meeting, the highest advisory body on education,
states also gave its go ahead for the ministry to look into the possibility of bringing in medical and legal education under the ambit of the body. The move to bring in medical and legal education under the ambit of the NCHER had so far faced stiff opposition from the Union health ministry and the Bar Council of India.
HRD minister Kapil Sibal stated that there was a unanimity among state education ministers on the proposal to set up the NCHER as an overarching body to frame policy and ensure quality in higher education.
“The states have been given four weeks to send their suggestions for the NCHER Bill after which we hope to make it ready by August and introduce in Parliament during the Winter Session,” Mr Sibal stated. He said that the state education ministers also supported the idea to bring medical and legal education under the ambit of the proposed body, a step that would help the NCHER plan cohesive and holistic policy in higher education and research.
According to the draft bill, the NCHER will be the apex institution in higher education and will replace the existing regulatory bodies like University Grants Commission, All India Council for Education and Research and Distance Education Council.
However, some states opposed the idea that vice chancellors of their universities should be selected from a list of names suggested by the collegium from the registry.