GEARING UP FOR CHANGE

How much progress have central universities made in implementing NEP reforms such as multiple exits, ABC registration, four-year UG programmes and dual degrees? Recently, UGC took stock.

- R. Radhika

Despite having all "groundwork" in place, Mahatma Gandhi Central University has been waiting for two years to implement provisions of the National Education Policy 2020.

It can introduce four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP), multidisciplinary learning, and multiple entries and exits all NEP recommendations - only once it amends its ordinances. But central university vice-chancellors are required to approve such amendments before implementation and the university in Bihar's Motihari district hasn't had a permanent VC since 2018 when its first VC, Arvind Agrawal, was removed from the position for allegedly fudging his academic records. The university has been run by interim VCs whose powers are limited and do not extend to making policy decisions.

"The last VC was removed from the university.... We have not been in a position to make policy decisions. For policies like multiple entry and exit, we have done all the ground work but since we do not have a permanent vice chancellor [they haven't been implemented] .... As soon as a VC is appointed, it will not take more than two-three weeks to implement the changes, depending on the speed of decision making of the head," explained the university's NEP coordinator, Asheesh Shrivastava.

Almost two years after the launch of NEP 2020, central universities - institutions directly under the ministry of education which framed the policy-are in various stages of implementing the sweeping reforms it recommended. The major changes the NEP seeks to bring include allowing students to store credits in Academic Bank of Credits; pursue four-year undergraduate programmes and then take admission directly into PhD; and enter and exit programmes at different points.

The higher education regulator, University Grants Commission (UGC), is tracking the progress which was discussed in a February meeting between UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, and VCs and NEP 2020 coordinators.