THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: The Kerala State Higher Education Council has recommended the setting up of SAAC (State Accreditation and Assessment Council ) in the model of NAAC for continuous assessment of colleges and teachers in the state. The recommendation would be vetted by the Governing Council of KSHEC and forwarded to the State Government for approval. KSHEC vice-chairman T P Sreenivasan told reporters here after the first meeting of the newly constituted body that the evaluation of NAAC is often a random procedure and there needs to be a continuous evaluation in the state-level to improve the quality of institutions and teachers, which is why it has mooted SAAC. The major highlight of the two-day meeting of KSHEC is that it has decided not to throw the proposals of the previous Council into the dustbin. ‘Continuity and change’ is the keyword, said Sreenivasan. There has been many committees and various studies during the last four years. All that would be reviewed and proper decisions would be taken regarding them, he said. The Council has envisaged a new scheme wherein the industry and education sectors would be linked more tightly. Though campus recruitment already links the two sectors, the new scheme would search for better linkages by drawing investments. The modalities of the scheme would be worked out shortly. The new Council has also decided to go ahead with the choice-based credit and semester system initiated by the previous Council. The cluster system which was meant to facilitate the CSS has been found weak. However, the Council would approach private colleges, who have so far been aloof to the idea of cluster colleges, to join the scheme and make it rolling. The Pro-Vice-Chancellors committee would look into the problems in CSS and submit recommendations, vice-chairman said. The Council has decided to extend the period of its scholarship for the 1,000 beneficiaries for five years. For additional funds, it would approach the State Government. Scholarship for professional courses are also under consideration by finding financial source from the fee to entrance examination. Including the Other Backward Class (OBC) in the scholarship pattern has also been recommended. A centre for Teachers’ Excellence Training Programme has been envisaged by the new Council. It has also decided to study the Madhava Menon committee report on law reforms and forward it to the government with additional suggestions from the Council’s part. The UGC package would be reviewed and the government pressed for implementation. The setting up of an IIT, Malayalam University and an Open University would be taken up with the State Government. The press meet was attended by KSHEC member secretary P Anvar also.
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