Tuesday, March 24, 2009

MHRD resisting NKC recommendations ?

Government of India has established the National Knowledge Commission to bring out reforms in area of education and create a knowledge society.

The NKC headed by Shri. Sam Pitroda has seven members. The other members are Dr. Ashok Ganguly, Dr. P. Balaram, Dr. Deepak Nayar, Dr. Jayanti Ghosh, Shri Nandan Nilekani,Prof. Amitabh Mattoo and Dr. Sujatha Ramdorai. The Commission started functioning from 2nd October 2005 initially for a period of 3 years. The tenure of the commission has been recently extended by Hon.Prime Minister till 31st March, 2009.The core of NKC recommendations relate to institutions of learning, particularly at the higher level. Supplementing this core are recommendations for revitalizing associated sectors like libraries, creating a digital broadband network interconnecting all research and education institutions, and promoting
a vibrant translation industry to create better access for all groups. Recommendations were also made by NKC on enhancing systems of knowledge creation. These included suggestions on creating a better environment for innovation in the country, a robust intellectual property rights regime, incentivizing research in universities, promoting traditional health systems and creating a better framework for delivery of government services to citizens through a citizen centric e-governance programme (extracts from NKC report to nation 2007)

However it was really disturbing to note the observations of Sh. Sam Pitroda recently that various Ministries are just sitting on the recommendations of NKC and no action is being taken. A few of the press coverage on the issue are listed below

1. Ministries resisting our recommendations: NKC
http://www.screenindia.com/news/ministries-resisting-our-recommendations-nkc/263395/
Posted: Jan 20, 2008 at 2321 hrs IST
The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) has said it is concerned that there is still resistance to new ideas, experimentation, process re-engineering, external interventions, transparency and accountability due to rigid organisational structures. “As a result, the real challenge lies in organisational innovation with new regulatory frameworks, new delivery systems, new processes,” it says.
In a terse statement issued on Saturday after it presented its second report to the Prime Minister, the NKC came down heavily on the resistance shown by Union ministries—from Education, Health, Science and Technology and Law—towards its recommendations when it came to their implementation.

2. Some people are against Education Reforms: Pitroda ?
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/hrd-min-sitting-on-nkcs-recommendations-pitroda/408366/
chennai: The National Knowledge Commission on Thursday accused the human resource ministry of “sitting” on its various recommendations relating to improvement in quality of education in several universities across the country.
“The HRD ministry is sitting on the projects,” Commission chairman Sam Pitroda said when asked about the status of the NKC's recommendations which has advocated setting up of about 1,500 universities in the country to increase the “gross enrolment ratio”.
Asked where actually the problems lie in implementing these proposals, he said, “one is bureaucratical and the other thing is people don't want change. When the country is thinking of a generational change, some people are against it. (Any guesses who is against this change and development ?)

3. Quality education still a far cry: Pitroda
Mar 19 2009, 2205 hrs IST , New Delhi Bookmark/Search this post with:
http://www.mydigitalfc.com/education/quality-education-still-a-far-cry-pitroda-721
India is still a long way away before taking any pride in its quality of education, the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) said in its 240-page final report submitted to the government on Thursday. “I may not be lucky to see the results of the recommendations … it will take a long time to materialise,” said Sam Pitroda, chairman, NKC, which was set up in 2006 as part of the vision of prime minster Manmohan Singh. It was entrusted with the responsibility of recommending measures to meet the challenges of the country.

4. NKC questions appointment of VCs of new central universities
http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/527605/National/1/20/1
New Delhi, Mar 19 The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) today took exception to the way the government appointed Vice Chancellors for 15 new Central Universities in the country."We do not agree with the way vice chancellors have been appointed. We have also expressed concern over certain provisions of the Central Universities Bill,"NKC chairman Sam Pitroda told reporters here. The government on February 28 appointed vice chancellors for 15 new central universities which have been created under the Central Universities Bill 2009.The NKC had earlier held that the Central Universities Bill 2008 vests"overwhelming control"with the government and demanded reformulation of the legislation with provision of more autonomy for the institutions.

It is quiet evident that nothing is happening at the ground level on the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission. It is said that Ministers within the current Government are resisting the reforms in education sector and creating a structure which is giving overwhelming powers to the Government.

Actions Speak Louder than Words...

regards,

Sameer Sachdeva
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/vision-india/

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