Maharashtra: Implement new education policy from June with 4-year UG courses

PUNE: The new State Director for Higher and Technical Education, Shailendra Deolankar has said that the implementation of the new education policy in Maharashtra will start from June 2023 with four-year university courses.

Government organizations should develop an Institute Development Policy (IDP). He also said that an examination of all the top colleges in the state would be carried out to help parents and students decide which one to choose. This inspection will be done every three years.

“The Public Universities Act provides for the auditing of universities every three years, mainly academic and administrative. Parents and students have the right to receive detailed information about universities and so far this audit has been ignored,” he added.

Deolankar also said universities would be encouraged to take the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) exams.

“We will start implementing the terms of the NEP from June next year. According to University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, a four-year study program will be the first step in the process. IDPs of government institutions and the establishment of an interdisciplinary group of research colleges will also be needed.

The interdisciplinary research model will be carried out on a pilot basis at the colleges of Aurangabad and Nagpur. Deolankar said, “Until now, many government-supported colleges have never received an NAAC rating. We are trying to encourage more and more colleges in Maharashtra to participate in the accreditation cycle. I also explain the process for their benefit. This process will have to be completed within a specified time in order for as many establishments as possible to be ranked.”