'No progress in clearing higher education laws disappointing'

HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju today expressed his "disappointment" over lack of progress in clearing the pending legislations on higher education, blaming it on repeated disruptions in Parliament.
Raju said the reason for him being more "disheartened" was because he had reached out to Leader of Opposition in both the Houses and they were "willing to cooperate".
He, however, said the ministry is exploring other alternatives like implementing some of the reforming measures through executive orders as the legislations pertains to the future of students.
As many as 10 key legislations - which include Education Tribunal Bill, National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher educational Institutions Bill, Higher Education and Research Bill and Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutes Bill - are stuck in Parliament for over a year now.

"Lack of progress is extremely disappointing and disheartening. It is disappointing because I had spoken to both the Leader of Oppositions and they were willing to cooperate to their passage. The House did not function but we will not give up and take it up in the monsoon session," he told reporters here.
While these legislations seeks to address issues confronting higher education sector, Raju referred to the set of regulations notified by both UGC and AICTE on matters of accreditation and checking of unfair practices in higher educational institutes.

On whether the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) approved by the government yesterday subsuming other bodies engaged in this initiative will impact the Ministry's own programme, he replied in negative.

Whatever the ministry is doing now, those schemes will continue. NSDA will enforce standards needed of the training programme as per industry requirements.
HRD Ministry has launched National Vocational Education Qualification Framework, which seeks to impart vocational education at the school level itself.
"NSDA will strengthen what we are doing today and award certificates," Raju said.