14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme

  • August 14, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme

Subject :Schemes

Introduction

  • Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal among 14 States and Union Territories not signed PM-USHA scheme  MoU with Union Education Ministry.
  • MoU mandates implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) for availing funds of ₹13,000 crore over 3 years.
  • Opposition-ruled States express concerns due to 40% budget responsibility and no extra funds for NEP reforms.
  • Centre engaging in discussions to resolve differences with dissenting States.

PM-USHA scheme: Enhancing Higher Education Quality

  • PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) aims to improve State University higher education quality.
  • Involves curriculum changes, teacher training, infrastructure enhancement, accreditation, and employability improvement.
  • Outlay of ₹12,926.10 crore allocated between 2023-24 and 2025-26.
  • MoU signifies States’ willingness to participate in PM-USHA for better implementation.

Importance of NEP Reforms and Funding Concerns

  • MoU mandates States to implement administrative, academic, and governance reforms in NEP.
  • Reforms include academic credit bank, entry-exit flexibility, Samarth e-governance platform.
  • Some States express concern over lack of extra funds for NEP changes.

Evolution of RUSA to PM-USHA: 

  • Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) aimed to enhance access, equity, and excellence in state higher education with efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness.
  • Launched in 2013 (Phase 1) and 2018 (Phase 2).
  • Transitioned to Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) due to National Education Policy (NEP) influence.

Coverage and Expansion:

  • Encompasses government and government-aided institutions in States and UTs.
  • Responds to increasing demand for higher education and growth in institutions and students.

Higher Education Landscape:

As per AISHE report 2020-21:

  • 1,113 Universities, 43,796 Colleges, 11,296 Stand Alone Institutions.
  • 78.6% Colleges privately managed.
  • Enrolment around 4.13 crores, with 48.7% females.
  • Majority (78.09%) enrolled in Under-Graduate, 11.5% in Post-Graduation.

RUSA’s Impact:

  • RUSA 1.0 & 2.0 benefited around 2500 institutions, focusing on 16 components.
  • Approx. 1000 projects completed, rest ongoing.
  • Improved Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER), accreditation, student-teacher ratio.

PM-USHA’s Objectives:

  • Address gaps identified by NITI Aayog’s Evaluation Report.
  • Enhance graduate employability through market-linked courses, internships, skill-based education.
  • Introduce technology and distance learning for access and quality.
  • Improve NAAC accreditation grades, emphasize quality, e-learning.
  • Promote community participation, gender sensitization.

Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP):

NEP identifies key challenges:

  • Fragmented ecosystem, limited cognitive skill development.
  • Early specialization, limited access in disadvantaged areas.
  • Teacher and institutional autonomy limitations.
  • Insufficient research emphasis and governance issues.

Empowering PM-USHA with NEP Principles:

  • PM-USHA guided by NEP’s pillars: accessibility, quality, equity, accountability, affordability.
  • Emphasizes skill-based education, employability, emerging courses, industry-academia linkage, accreditation, choice-based credit system, academic reforms, technology integration.
  • Prioritizes “Focus Districts” for targeted development.

PM-USHA Focus Areas: 

  1. Equity & Inclusion:
    • Address disparities in enrollment.
    • Promote diversity and multilingualism.
  2. Quality Education:
    • Innovate curricula and pedagogy.
    • Transform institutions, enhance skills.
  3. Accreditation & Quality:
    • Boost trust through accreditation.
    • Support institutions’ improvement.
  4. Digital Advancements:
    • Embrace technology for learning.
    • Enhance digital infrastructure.
  5. Employability Enhancement:
    • Forge industry ties for skills.
    • Track employability outcomes.

Institutional Structure:

A. Central Level Structure

  1. National Mission Authority (NMA)
    • Chaired by Hon’ble Education Minister, GoI
  2. Project Approval Board (PAB)
    • Chaired by Secretary (Higher Education), GoI
  3. National Project Directorate (NPD)
  4. Technical Support Group (TSG)

B. State Level Structure

  1. State Higher Education Council (SHEC)
  2. State Project Directorate (SPD)
  3. State Technical Support Group (State-TSG)

C. Institutional Level Structure

  1. Board of Governors (BOGs)
  2. Project Monitoring Unit (PMU)

Selection via Challenge Method

A. First Stage:

  • States/UTs sign MoU with MoE.
  • MoU encompasses State commitments:
    1. Implementation of NEP reforms
    2. Support for all government and government-aided institutions in pursuing accreditation
    3. Adoption of Guidelines on National Credit Framework (NCrF) and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) for Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP).

B. Second Stage:

  • State Governments shortlist Universities, Colleges, and Districts.
  • Priority accorded to focus districts for receiving support under:
    • Component 2: ‘Grants to Strengthen Universities’
    • Component 3: ‘Grants to Strengthen Colleges’
  • Further, State Governments choose focus districts for:
    • Component 4: ‘New Model Degree College’
    • Component 5: ‘Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiative’

C. Third Stage:

  • Ministry of Higher Education evaluates all submitted proposals, assisted by Technical Support Group.
  • Proposals undergo examination, appraisal, and approval by the Project Approval Board (PAB).
  • Selection criteria and past state performance form the basis for evaluation and approval.
14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme Schemes