New Delhi: A HRD panel, set up to review the working of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has suggested scrapping of the regulator citing its failure to fulfill its mandate and not being able to deal with emerging diverse complexities.
The panel, which is headed by former UGC chairperson Hari Gautam, also stated that any attempt to revamp UGC will be a complete futile exercise.
The two-volume report submitted to the HRD ministry noted that working structure in the UGC is ad-hoc.
Times of India, while citing the findings of the report, said that UGC side-stepped its function of being a sentinel of excellence in education and embraced the relatively easier function of funding education.
UGC staffs are also unhappy as only few find favour and are delegated with powers to perform any important task. The panel observed that there is a man-made crisis which ultimately is the reason of unhealthy ambience and poor performance of UGC.
It recommended that members be given more active role and should be paid parity with Central government employees.
Regional offices of UGC and Consortium of Educational Communication (CEC) have failed to deliver and are a waste of 'good money and manpower', it stated.
It further suggested setting up of National Higher Education Authority through an act of Parliament.
A national research aptitude test for admission to Ph.D is one of its suggestions.
It has also emphasized teaching of yoga and transcendental meditation.
The committee said that UGC chairperson should keep a tight vigil on the performance of various areas instead of spending more time in going around the country.
Sources in HRD Ministry said that the findings will be looked into seriously.
