Recently, the Directorate of Higher Education sought views and inputs from the public on different aspects of Higher education. It was quite refreshing to know that the Directorate is keen to involve the public. Obviously, there is no single decision, scheme or process that can improve the quality of education. It requires a comprehensive policy with a strong political and administrative will. I have been researching this issue for the last 4 years based on which I have suggested 10 ways to improve the quality of higher education and make Goans employable
- Improve the Standard of Education and Employability:
Educational institutions have to provide the highest quality of education which can be compared with international standards. Every subject/course has to be reviewed and if required updated every two years. The entire course has to be changed every 6-10 years to meet the needs of employers.
Education has to be made industry relevant and practical. Today, students are forced to sit in classrooms, listen passively to unskilled lecturers and then are forced to regurgitate the information at the end of the semester. This is a failed model which needs to be replaced with a system that encourages analytical thinking, creative expression of ideas and practical hands-on experience in order to create qualified graduates who acceptable in job markets.
- Implement RUSA Scheme
In Goa, only Rs 13 Crores out of the proposed 36 Crores has been released by the centre under this fund which is meant for improving the infrastructure of 24 Goan Colleges and the Goa University. Since the inception of this scheme in 2012, funds have been released only 2013-14 (Rs 1.2 Cr) and 2015-16 (Rs. 11.4 Cr). In 2014-15 and 16-17, no funds have been released. According to information of RUSA website, the issues related to implementation in Goa are that the fund utilisation certificates of the 18 colleges that received part funds had not been submitted, the state has Geotagged photographs of only 3 RUSA Funded Institutions, the State has yet to constitute its State Higher Education Council through an Act, among others.
The BJP Government was never serious about this scheme. In 2015, I had to file a complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance against the then Director of Higher Education Bhaskar Nayak for keeping the files pending for nearly two years. A few months later, 11.4 Crores was released. If the DHE is serious about improving the quality of our institutes, it has to implement this scheme on a war footing and ensure that all the issue pointed out by the RUSA council are addressed so that each of the 24 colleges receives the 1.2 Crore fund from the centre.
- Reforms in student financing:
Goa Scholars Scheme, a no strings attached scholarship fund, must be scrapped. Funds under this scheme are allotted arbitrarily. There are allegations of favouritism and corruption. DHE does not follow the reservation muster roll which is mandatory as per the scheme rules. Therefore ST/SC/OBC are denied this scheme. The scheme also promotes brain drain. Most of the beneficiaries have left Goa for good. Around 3 Crores are spend on 20+ students who have no obligation to work in Goa or India.
Instead, schemes must be introduced to subsidise education for meritorious students who study in Goan institutes, independent of financial background. For example, 50% subsidy on college fees can be given to all students who score first class in the previous semester. There should be scholarships for meritorious students from financially weaker sections to continue their education till post graduation.
- Use technology for education delivery:
The issue with the current model of education is that the strength of the classroom is too big for effective content delivery. The number of students enrolling in Colleges is rising because of which lecturers are appointed at a higher rate than ever. These new lecturers do not possess the teaching skills and lack the depth in the subject to effectively impart knowledge and education. We need to implement a model which is less dependent on these lecturers for delivering content within the current classroom setup.
ICT and Smart Classrooms are one solution but they are normally associated with high cost and poor implementation. The simple and cost-effective way of using technology for education delivery is using video content which can be accessed by students on their PC or mobile device. Lecturers can ask students to watch these videos before class as an introductory session or after class as a tool for further learning and revision. Students can view these videos as per their own pace of learning.
- Enabling a research environment:
DHE must encourage colleges to conduct research which has practical application. This would also encourage teachers to take research projects of various funding agencies like UGC, CSIR, ISRO, DST etc. Further, DHE must set up the framework to encourage private enterprises to invest in research in technology, local markets, microeconomics, etc
- High-quality faculty:
New lecturers have to go through a semester of mentorship training under an experienced lecturer before being thrown into a classroom. Also, there is a dire need to provide requisite funds to the teachers for attending seminars, conferences, workshops and other events at regional, national and international levels. Every course has to have a committee with a panel of experts who create content to update lecturers with latest developments taking place in their respective subjects.
Interview process of lecturers needs to be reformed in order to eliminate favouritism and corruption in the selection process. The interview process has to include real-world demonstration in a classroom of students. Updated information of how many posts are filled and available under various categories (reservation) must be published online.
There is a need to implement performance assessment mechanism based on peer review, student feedback and student performance for evaluation of lecturers. A lecturer must be evaluated not only for his teaching but also for his research and extension activities.
- Reorientation and Consolidation
The orientation of students towards professional subjects needs to be done at an earlier stage so as to provide greater avenues and foster their inherent capabilities in one particular stream rather than making them study all kinds of subjects irrespective of their personal interests and inclinations.
- Choice Based Credit System (CBCS)
In concert with plans to broaden access to tertiary study opportunities, the 12th Five-Year Plan also discusses the need for a deepening of academic reforms, with institutions being asked to shift their instructional emphasis from an “input-centric and credential-focused” approach to a more “learner-centric” approach. This is to be achieved through: regular revisions to curricula, the implementation of a choice-based credit system, the introduction of continuous and comprehensive student evaluations, a cumulative grade point system, and new marking and grading schemes.
It is also hoped that the new semester and credit system will encourage more frequent revisions to curriculum and more relevance to the labour market, with the RUSA policy document outlining a process of curriculum stocktaking and revision every three years.
- Promoting Twinning programs with other colleges in India and Abroad
The twinning programme between colleges across borders broadens the scope of the educational programme by providing opportunity and access for candidates aspiring to pursue higher studies through distance mode blended with the characteristics of the regular programme. It endeavours to strengthen and enhance the quality of higher education offered through distance mode while giving students cross-cultural exposure.
- Ombudsman in Higher Education
Within the rising fees of private colleges, there is a need for an independent Ombudsman to address grievances of poor educational services, harassment of students by staff and any other grievances. This will bring accountability and transparency to the way private colleges function.
There are just a few of the reforms that are needed in the DHE. I urge parents, employers, politicians and the general public to get involved and contribute their suggestions to this initiative by the DHE in order to create responsible and employable Goans.
Avinash Tavares 