Concerned over the low and grossly inadequate enrolment in higher education, which has proved to be a major obstacle in operating in the knowledge economy, Planning Commission has come out with an ambitious plan to restructure and reform the country's higher education sector.
The focus will be on access, equity and quality and would require funding of Rs 1,31,022 crore during the XI plan period (2007-12), an additional funding of Rs 98,602 crore.
The plan panel's proposal, which has been finalised after consultations with UGC chairman and education secretary, proposes a common entrance examination for all central universities to begin with and a uniform system of semesters and grades so that students can move easily between institutions. "Our students are under great stress. We, therefore, think that there should be a common test for all central universities. JNU already has such a test but it is for the post-graduate level only," said deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
However, HRD ministry is sceptical of the common entrance test. It is being argued that unlike JNU, many central universities like Delhi University have affiliated autonomous colleges. These colleges have their own standards and would not like to forego it.
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