Indore: Though the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) plans to pump in crores of rupees for expansion of institutions of higher learning under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), status of colleges is appalling in the state. Out of 516 government colleges in Madhya Pradesh, merely 100 are eligible for RUSA grant. The eligibility of availing RUSA grant is minimum Grade B accreditation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Of 516 government colleges in the state, nearly 100 are having Grade B or above letter grade from NAAC. “MHRD wants to fund government colleges but they are not obtaining NAAC accreditation, which is pre-requisite for availing RUSA grant,” said Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya RUSA cell chairman Sumant Katiyal.
A closer look at NAAC data revealed that a total of 113 government colleges from the state obtained accreditation from NAAC of which 13 are Grade C accreditation colleges. Grade C accredited colleges are not entitled for the grant. Even when grant is attached to it, most colleges in the state have not applied for NAAC accreditation because they lack resources and adequate staff. NAAC accreditation plays a vital role for government expansion as they get funds of up to Rs 2 crore every year. For private colleges, accreditation is merely about brand image. It usually takes six months to a year for a college to get NAAC tag. First, the college sets up an internal quality assurance cell, which submits a report, which is subsequently submitted to the NAAC. A peer team of NAAC then visits the college to assess its standards. Based on the report of visiting team, accreditation is granted to the college. RUSA is a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), launched in 2013 that aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions. The central funding (in ratio of 65:35 for general category states and 90:10 for special category states) would be norm based and outcome dependent.
Only 219 colleges obtain NAAC tag
Out of total 1395 colleges under department of higher education in the state, merely 219 colleges obtained accreditation from NAAC. Among accredited colleges, four have Grade A + accreditation, 37 have Grade A accreditation, 10 have Grade B++ accreditation, 15 have Grade B+ accreditation and 136 have Grade B accreditation and 17 have Grade C accreditation. There are total 789 private colleges, 516 government colleges and 76 aided colleges in the state.
34 colleges under DAVV accredited
As many as 34 colleges under the DAVV have accreditation from NAAC. Of them, one is accredited with Grade A+, 10 with Grade A, one each with Grade B++ and Grade B+ respectively, 18 with Grade B and three with Grade C. Katiyal said they had directed all the colleges under DAVV to obtain NAAC accreditation by end of 2019-20 session else they would not be granted accreditation.