In Bengal, a crisis in higher education

Higher education in West Bengal is facing a serious crisis due to the ongoing tussle between the state government and the governor over the appointment of vice-chancellors (VCs) of state-run universities. The situation has adversely affected the academic interests of students and faculty members, as well as the autonomy and governance of the institutions.

The conflict between the state government and the governor, who is also the chancellor of state universities, dates back to 2022, when the former governor Jagdeep Dhankhar allegedly appointed 24 VCs without consulting the state government. The validity of these appointments was challenged by a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court, which ruled that the UGC Regulations of 2018, which require a UGC nominee in the search committee for selecting VCs, will prevail.

After the current governor C.V. Ananda Bose assumed office in March 2023, he initially agreed to accept the resignation of the VCs and appoint them as interim VCs for three months. However, in May, he rejected the state government's proposal to extend their term for another six months and appointed his own choices as officiating VCs without consulting the state government.

The state government responded by passing the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023 on August 4, which increased the number of members in the search committee from three to five. The committee now consists of the governor, a representative of the chief minister, a UGC nominee, a representative of the state education department and a representative of the state higher education council³. The bill also excluded any representatives from the universities themselves.

The implications

The power struggle between Raj Bhavan and Bikash Bhavan (the state higher education department headquarters) has created a lot of uncertainty and confusion among the academic community. As of now, none of the 31 state-run universities has a full-time VC. Many of them are also facing vacancies in other key positions such as registrars, controllers of examinations and finance officers.

The absence of stable leadership and proper administration has hampered the functioning and development of the universities. The academic calendar has been disrupted, examinations have been delayed, research activities have been affected and new courses have been stalled. The universities are also struggling to cope with the provisions of the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which mandates four-year undergraduate degree courses.

The lack of representation of universities in the VC search committees has also raised concerns about the erosion of autonomy and academic freedom of the institutions. Many teachers' associations have denounced the bill as a "black act" that aims to "politically control" the entire process by keeping out stakeholders from universities². They have demanded that the bill be withdrawn and a democratic and transparent mechanism be adopted for appointing VCs.

The way forward

The crisis in higher education in West Bengal needs to be resolved urgently and amicably by respecting the constitutional provisions and statutory norms. The governor and the state government should work together to ensure that qualified and competent candidates are appointed as VCs through a fair and consultative process. The interests of students and faculty members should be given priority over political considerations. The universities should be given adequate autonomy and resources to pursue excellence in teaching, research and innovation. The NEP 2020 should be implemented in a phased and participatory manner with due regard to the diversity and specificity of each university.

Higher education is a vital sector that contributes to the social, economic and cultural development of a state and a nation. It is imperative that all stakeholders work together to overcome this crisis and restore the glory and dignity of higher education in West Bengal.

Source: 

(1) In Bengal, a crisis in higher education - The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-crisis-in-higher-education/article67175731.ece.

(2) Bengal governor vs authorities tussle affecting education: Teachers .... https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tussle-between-bengal-governor-authorities-affecting-education-teachers-bodies-2416898-2023-08-06.

(3) In Bengal, a crisis in higher education - inkl. https://www.inkl.com/news/in-bengal-a-crisis-in-higher-education.

(4) The global education crisis – even more severe than previously estimated. https://blogs.worldbank.org/education/global-education-crisis-even-more-severe-previously-estimated.

FAQ's

What is the education status in West Bengal?

The literacy rate of West Bengal was 76.26%, of which the male literacy is 81.69% and female literacy is 66.57%.

What is the name of the higher education?

Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs aftercompletion of secondary education.

Which district has highest education in West Bengal?

Highest Literate Districts District Per Purba Medinipur 87.02% Kolkata 86.31% North Twenty Four Parganas 84.06% Howrah (Haora) 83.31%

What is the education rate in Bengal?

At present, West Bengal stands at 20th position in literacy rate rank. According to the 2011 census, West Bengal's literacy rate is 77.08%, with a differential of 82.67 % male literacy and 71.16 % females.