Maharashtra government wants varsity students to pay more fee

University students must bear the cost of education so that higher education institutions become economically viable, feels the Maharashtra government.
Among its slew of recommendations to the Centre for the new education policy (NEP) in higher education, the state has suggested fee hike for university students, albeit with fee waivers for needy students. It has also proposed that skill-based courses should be compulsory and be integrated with existing academic programmes along with the permission of multiple exit and entry with well-defined credit accumulation and transfer system.
"There should be a link between cost of education and fee structure to bring in economic viability on sustainable pattern," says the interim report of the state submitted to Centre last month.
It also talks about a fee regulatory authority for universities and a fee structure depending upon the institution and course. The state has also suggested that universities must declare employability index of all programmes with the help of inputs from employers and alumni.
Centralised recruitment for professors and punitive action for those who don't teach in the class, separate board of examination for the affiliated colleges at each university and standardisation of examination pattern across the state universities are among key reforms proposed by the state to the Centre.
Taking a tough stand against non-performing teachers, the state in its response has suggested performance-based renewal of appointment as it is in practice in advanced societies, mandatory academic audit of the teacher every year to fix accountability, strict implementation of code of conduct.
"Final report will be submitted to the Centre in January after fine tuning all suggestions," said a highly-placed official in the higher and technical education department. The department claimed to have held statewide consultation from block up to district level to come up with these suggestions.
Only a week ago, Maharashtra government was forced to withdraw its controversial "recommendations" for school education reforms to the Centre. The embarrassment has alerted the higher education department which is currently "moderating" the suggestions which have piled up from across the state before coming up with its final response, admitted the official.
In a response to a Centre's query regarding complete financial autonomy to varsities, the state has said that it was not viable. It has admitted that lack of infrastructure, poor faculty is affecting the education and batted for more autonomous colleges to improve their performance.
Textile not a priority sector anymore?
In a response to Centre's question on identifying key sectors for skill education, the government has mentioned energy, IT, Electronics, automotive, construction, agriculture and food processing, hospitality/tourism, maintenance and repair, mechanics, bakery and hair dressing. However, the textile sector, which is second largest employer after agriculture, is missing from the list, although the apparel design skills for potential self-employers is mentioned. This has raised quite a few eyebrows mainly because the Fadnavis government is banking on textile sector for Vidarbha development. It is also working upon a new textile policy.