Union Education Ministry In Dark About PM’s Centres Of Excellence

The Union Government’s Department of Higher Education seems to be unaware of the details surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious project to transform 5,000 educational institutions into Centres of Excellence. This revelation comes after social activist BN Kumar filed a Right to Information (RTI) request

Union Government’s Department of Higher Education appears to be in the dark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project to develop 5,000 educational institutions into Centres of Excellence, information obtained under the Right To Information (RTI) Act shows.

Social activist BN Kumar, convenor of Alert Citizens’ Team, sought information from the department on the progress of the project announced by the PM and details of the institutions identified under the idea.

In fact, the Union Minister for Education Dr Dharmendra Pradhan also has also said higher education Institutes of the country will play a crucial role in realising the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Viksit Bharat by embracing the core values and spirit of NEP 2020, Kumar said.

In this context, the activist also wanted to know details of education infrastructure to be upgraded into Centres of Excellence, details of courses and their duration.

In response, the Department of Higher Education flatly said: “the information sought under RTI application does not pertain to this division’.

Hence, the reply of RTI application may be treated as nil, said the reply posted by Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) Kunal Gautam.

Talking to Bizz Buzz, Kumar said, “This is shocking since it is the Education Minister who has been talking about the Centres of Excellence.”

Dr Pradhan stressed on this at a workshop on the Institutional Development Plan for Higher Education Institutes on September 4 this year. He also talked about the role of the higher education institutions (HEIs) in redefining the purpose and structure of education, empowering youth and making them future-ready, doubling the gross enrolment ratio, bringing a vast majority of the population under the higher education net, effectively utilising demographic advantage, achieving academic, research and innovation excellence and also the way forward for transforming 5,000 HEIs into centres-of-excellence through holistic and inclusive approaches, Kumar said quoting a PIB press release. Kumar, therefore, filed the application on November 10 seeking details such as the government’s focus on vocational education, faculties chosen for vocational education, expenses to be incurred on developing Centres of Excellence, source of funds, details of fund allocation details and the fee to be paid by students.

Kumar said he sought the details on reading disturbing reports that as per the economic survey 2023-24, one out of two students being produced by colleges are unemployable.

He wondered that the RTI response amounted to the right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing.

He therefore filed his first appeal with the education department. “Kumar should have addressed the RTI query to the Department of Higher Education”, quipped Anil Singh, an author and media professional.

Singh, who is also a media educationist, asked: "What can you expect from a government where even top academic posts have been hired out to yes men who cannot conduct a CET for medical entrance?"