Many private universities are flouting laws as they are running programmes without approval and carrying out education activities on “unauthorised” campuses. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is set to alert students who are intending to get admitted to universities that are flouting The Private University Act 2010. The commission is expected to warn at least 21 universities for flouting the law. UGC asked the universities to abide by the law properly, otherwise, they will face the music. UGC said they do not want to take stern actions like closing the universities as the future of students are tied to them. UGC will shortly sit with all private university authorities to find out possible solutions.
Some top-notch universities are also on the list of institutions which are running education activities on unapproved campuses. Newly opened universities without meeting minimum standards are admitting students to different programmes. Improvement of the situation has been very slow over the last two decades. Rules or regulations have not been complied with yet for lack of coordination of university authorities, political pressure, and lack of enforcement. There are 107 private universities in the country, where around 350,000 students are studying in different disciplines. Physical classes in all private universities are expected to begin soon and academic activities restored, although economic restoration will be prolonged.
Without any national educational strategy, successive governments allowed business conglomerates to initiate education businesses. The 107 private universities eventually add very little value in exchange for the high price. The UGC should take the responsibility to properly monitor university activities, such as admission criteria, lowest and highest fee structure for students, salary structure, and other issues related to quality education.
