Guv asks Raj varsities to improve quality

Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva today asked universities to take up measures to improve quality of education, raise funds on their own and cut down expenses on non-teaching staff.
Addressing a meeting of Vice-Chancellors and government officials, Alva underscored the need to attract talented teachers through competitive salaries and good working conditions, an official spokesperson said.
She also directed the Vice-Chancellors to ensure adequate steps to check ragging and sexual harassment on the campuses, the spokesperson said.
Several VCs raised the point that the state universities could not obtain certain financial grants from the UGC because the state was yet to set up a Higher Education Council. All agreed that such a council needed to be set up.

The meeting, held to address issues concerning higher education in the state, also discussed the hike in examination fees to generate resources, pension liabilities of university staff, and initiatives to enhance quality of higher education.
As for the quality of education, while some VCs voiced concern over deterioration of standards, others argued that modern technology provided the tools to impart quality education at a mass scale.
The meeting was attended by Vice Chancellors of 26 universities of the state and senior officials from various departments, including Finance, Tribal Area Development, Sanskrit Education, Sports and Youth Affairs department.