NCERT to get Deemed University Status: What changes will this bring?

NCERT to get Deemed University Status: What changes will this bring?

If this decision is implemented, NCERT will not be limited to just preparing textbooks for classes 1 to 12, but will also play a major role in the fields of education, teacher training, and international cooperation.

India's education system is about to enter a new era. The institution that we have so far known only as the body that creates school textbooks may soon become a full-fledged university. The process of granting Deemed-to-be University status to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is almost complete.

If this decision is implemented, NCERT will not be limited to just preparing textbooks for classes 1 to 12, but will also play a major role in higher education, research, teacher training, and international cooperation. This is expected to give a new direction to India's education system.

When can the big decision be expected?

According to sources, the proposal to make NCERT a Deemed University is now with the University Grants Commission (UGC). All necessary documents and formalities have been completed. The proposal will now be discussed in the next UGC meeting. It is expected that a final decision may be taken by the end of January. If the UGC gives its recommendation, then after the approval of the central government, NCERT will get the status of a Deemed University.

What will change in NCERT after becoming a Deemed University?

If NCERT gets the status of a Deemed University, its working style will completely change. Now NCERT will be able to award degrees itself. After becoming a Deemed University, NCERT will be able to award degrees such as Graduation (UG), Post Graduation (PG), and PhD. Until now, NCERT's main work was limited to school education, but in the future, educational research will increase, in-depth work will be done on education policy, and new courses and programs will be launched. Advanced training programs for teachers, modern teaching techniques, and research-based teaching models will be developed, which will further improve the quality of school education.

What is a Deemed University?

In India, all universities are recognized by the UGC. Deemed-to-be university status is granted to institutions that specialize in a particular field and demonstrate strong performance in education and research. Currently, there are approximately 145 deemed universities in the country. The first institution to receive this status was IISc Bengaluru in 1958. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of deemed universities. These institutions have complete autonomy in designing courses, developing syllabi, setting admission rules, and determining fees.