(a) whether the higher education in the country is facing decrease in teaching quality over the years
particularly in the higher education;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the teachers are not well trained and qualified for the job;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has any mechanism to check the quality of newly appointed teachers in
colleges and universities; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)
(a) to (d) Government is serious about improving the quality in teaching in higher education. In this
regard, University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE) have taken various initiatives. Some of these initiatives are as under:
<pre>
(i) Diksha- It is a platform for teachers which enables capacity building of all categories of
teachers. It helps over 50 lakh teachers in improving the quality of education. Teachers
upload their own material on the portal, which also offer online courses, allow sharing of
best content, monitor progress and introduce energized text books with QR Code.
(ii) Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQUIP)- This is a quality
improvement program in technical education. In phase III, hill states of J&K, Himachal and
Uttarakhand, 8 North-eastern States, Andaman Nicobar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam has got Rs.2,600 crore. This ensures bridging
the regional gaps in technical education. 1200 IIT and NIT graduates have opted for 3 years
teaching in educationally backward regions. They have resumed their duties in 53
government engineering colleges where faculty vacancies were large. Thus 1,00,000
students get quality education which they were deprived off till recently.
(iii) Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) – Under GIAN, 700 professors from 58
countries have so far conducted about 1120 courses in specialized topics for students in
Indian Higher Educational institutions. More than 40,000 students and associated Indian
Faculty has benefited from this international teaching exposure.
(iv) Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission for Teachers Training (PMMMNMTT) –
Under this scheme in-service training programs for more than 1,00,000 college and
university teachers have been organized. Newly appointed teachers undergo six months
pedagogical training, so they can make good rapport with students and the quality
improves.
(v) INTER UNIVERSITY CENTRES (IUCS) : To improve the standards of higher education and
research, the UGC establishes Inter-University Centres for Teachers Education within the
university system under Clause 12(ccc) of the UGC Act.
</re>
(e) to (f) Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT) is a 40 hours programme with 20
hours of video content offered in a highly flexible format which can be done at one’s own
pace and time. The programme has built-in assessment exercises and activities as part of the
academic progression in the course. At the end of the course, there is a provision for
terminal assessment which can be either online or written examination. The course offered
under the ARPIT programme is treated as equivalent to one Refresher Course for the
purposes of Career Advancement. This helps in assessment of teachers.
AICTE has issued All India Council for Technical Education (Career Advancement Scheme
for the Teachers and other Academic Staff in Technical Institutions) (Degree) Regulations,
2012. Each faculty member submits performance based appraisal system(PBAS) in a
performa as evolved by the concerned institution/ University duly supported by all
credentials as per the Academic Performance Indicator(API) guidelines set out in these
regulations.
**