Suggestions from DK lecturers to make NCHER Bill better welcome: Oscar

Mangalore, July 1: A government committee would visit Chennai or Trivandrum soon before whom Mangalore lecturers can place their suggestions in making the National Commission for Higher Education and Research Bill (2011) more beneficial, said Oscar Fernandes, MP and head of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development.

He was responding to the suggestions placed by Dr. A M Narahari regarding the NCHER Bill at a convention on higher education organized by the Association of Mangalore University College Teachers (AMUCT) in Mangalore on Sunday.

Dr. Narahari in his address placed before Mr. Fernandes several suggestions with respect to the Bill such as appointment of Vice Chancellors, extension of the term of nominated members, threat of total commercialization of education owing to the scope for public-private partnership (PPP) being provided in the Bill besides other issues.

Mr. Fernandes said that appointment of Vice Chencellors for Central Universities would be handled by the Central Committee but as far as State Universities are concerned, there would be no interference from the Centre. He invited AMUCT representatives to participate in a meeting with the NCHER Committee and place before them their observations and suggestions. They would be considered before being put forth in the Parliament, Mr. Fernandes said.

The Bill has been formulated by the government to enhance the overall education quality, Mr. Fernandes said. “None of our universities feature in the top 100 universities of the world although Indian teachers and Indian students are quite sought after throughout the world. We must have specific plans to enhance our education quality and be counted among the best institutions in the world”, he said.

AMUCT's bulletin was also released on the occasion.

Prof. T C Shivashankara Murthy, Vice Chancellor, Mangalore University, presided over the meet. Dr. Kamalamma V, Director of Collegiate Education, Government of Karnataka, C H Murigendrappa, President, FUCTAK, T M Manjunath, General Secretary, FUCTAK, Dr, Manjula K T, Principal, Besant Women's College, Mangalore, were present among others.