STATE HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCILS IN INDIA UNDER PURVIEW OF RUSA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

As India is a nation of full of diversionssocially, economically and educationally. Where education keeps importance to remove such diversions ethically and morally. In view, this paper is made an attempt to explore the contributionsof central government for imparting the education among all parts of allstates, and an attempt to put an end to the urban and rural divide through RUSA.Rashtriyauchchatarshikshaabhiyan (RUSA) is a centrally sponsored scheme proposed by the ministry of human resourcesdevelopment.Which will be functioningunder UGC to ensure holistic planning at the state level and enhancement of allocation for the state institutions, which will focus on state higher educational institutions.

There are 16 RUSA objectives listed. The foremost importantis ‘Facilitate the creation of State Higher Education Councils (SHECs)’. The intent of RUSA is that SHECs are to play a central role in the delivery of the RUSA vision“to attain higher levels of access, equityand excellence in the state higher education system with greater efficiency, transparency, accountabilityand responsiveness.”

The task of developing State Higher Education Plans demands expertise in assessing national and regional needs, setting targets, in assessing existing progress, in resource allocation and in challenging assumptions about the adequacy of implementation arrangements. To have the confidence of state governmental officials and agencies, state councils must have the staff expertise and competence to carry out funding responsibilities. Ensuring objectivity and validity in funding methodologies is a critical responsibility of most state councils. None of the SHECs fully meets good international practice regarding an “arms-length” relationship with state political leadership and state government administrative entities.

My presentation will focus on the Approach, Planning and Appraisal. Moreover, this will attempt to find out challenges and short out problems through making comparative studies from other nation’s higher education status and policies.