New proposals aim to curb Govt control over IITs

New proposals aim to curb Govt control over IITs

Empowering and expanding the role and character of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Boards and limiting government control at IITs to mere dispatch of grants, a definitive hike in student fee, an academic shift from a course-based system to a credit-based one, and an alternative to the Joint Entrance Examination — these are the key recommendations that will be mulled upon at the meeting of the IIT Council this week. The proposed academic progression changes, if accepted, will mark a new way of studying and imparting education at the IITs, which follow a course-based format.

The recommendation has been made in the light of the recent spate of suicides committed by IIT students. While there were four cases of suicide at IIT Kharagpur, such unfortunate incidents also took place at IIT Bombay and IIT Kanpur. Each IIT has tried to address the issue. While IIT Bombay has brought in rehabilitation programmes, IIT Kanpur has shifted from a six-point to seven-point grading formula to allow more room for weaker students.

A student has to clear some prescribed number of courses per semester to move on to the next semester. A committee instituted by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry is learnt to have opined that this course-centric approach is adding to academic stress since a student is considered 'failed' in the semester if he does not clear all the prescribed number of courses. This course-based progression system should instead be replaced by a credit-based review system to enable a student's progress from one semester to another on the basis of credits earned, keeping the pass/ fail pressures under control.

While changes in academic progression may find acceptance, those mooted for financial autonomy of IITs may face rough weather. A committee, headed by nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar, has recommended major changes to extend greater financial autonomy to IITs, rejig existing governing structures to make IIT Boards completely autonomous, and foster an environment in the institutes that makes them comparable to research universities. From hiring faculty and non-faculty, topping up faculty salaries, creating new posts, and looking at ways to raise non-government funds -- all should be the prerogative of IIT boards, the committee has recommended. The committee calls for less dependence on government funding. This, however, would mean that the fees will need to be hiked. While the committee has suggested a number of models, one that assumes zero government funding in terms of block grant scheme that gives IITs some Rs 2.1-2.5 lakh per student, will mean a hike of similar amount. The hike could be steeper for M Tech and PhD students.

Source: Indian Express