Broad consensus on apex higher education regulator: Sibal

NEW DELHI - Broad consensus has been reached on a draft bill aimed at creating an apex regulator for higher education in the country as state education ministers have extended their support, albeit with some suggestions, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said Saturday.

“There is a broad consensus, not just on the structure but also on the purpose of the bill,” Sibal said here after a meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the highest education advisory body.

The meet was attended by education ministers from all states and union territories.

“Some ministers gave some suggestions… we have given them four weeks’ time to submit these in writing,” Sibal said.

The National Commission for Higher Education and Research has been proposed as an overarching body overseeing higher education in the country. Some state governments had earlier disapproved of the council, terming it an impingement of their rights.

States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana termed the bill as “encroachment” by the central government.

The broad approval for the draft bill came after some changes were made, giving states more powers in the decision making of the body.

The suggestions from the states will be submitted to the task force drafting the bill, which will then finalise the draft.

The draft will then be submitted to the government. Sources in the HRD ministry said that the whole procedure may take time and the bill may not be ready before the winter session of parliament in November-December.

–Indo Asian News Service