Higher Education Department

POLICY NOTE - 2005 – 2006

Demand No. 19

INTRODUCTION

The policy for Higher Education in the State has been formulated in line with the desire of the Hon'ble Chief Minister to make the State of Tamil Nadu the foremost State in the country in the field of Higher Education.

1.2 The total budget allocation under Demand No: 19- Higher Education is Rs.741.77 crores. The State has one of the largest intake capacities in the country for Engineering and Polytechnic Education. The annual intake capacity for Engineering Colleges is 69,475 and for Polytechnic Colleges it is 58,089.

1.3 The endeavour of the Government is to consolidate the capacities built up, while improving the quality of these institutions rather than merely increasing the number of new institutions. In line with this policy, the Government has created a Technological University by converting Anna University into an affiliating type. Anna University has initiated programmes for upgrading the engineering curriculum and syllabi in order to respond to new technological developments and demands of the market. Emphasis will be laid on encouraging closer interaction between industries and educational institutions so that both may mutually benefit.

1.4 In Arts and Science Colleges, emphasis is being laid on introducing more job- oriented courses.

1.5 Tamil Nadu has a large number of accredited colleges. As a policy, the Government encourages every higher education institution in the State to opt for accreditation either by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in the case of Arts and Science Colleges and Universities or by National Board of Accreditation (NBA) in the case of Technical Institutions. Institutions are encouraged to undertake development of new curriculum and improve the quality of teaching, learning and administration.

1.6 With a view to providing access to higher education for large segments of population "Tamil Nadu Open University" has been started at Chennai during the year 2002-2003 and has enrolled more than 20,000 students under various courses.

FINANCIAL OUTLAY

Under Demand No.19 - Higher Education, the total outlay is Rs.741.77 crores of which Rs.62.04 Crores are for Plan Schemes and Rs.679.73 crores are for Non- Plan schemes .

BUDGET ESTIMATE 2005 – 2006

PART II SCHEMES FOR THE YEAR 2005-2006

(Rs. in lakhs)

2. DIRECTORATE OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION

2.1 The Directorate of Collegiate Education was carved out of the erstwhile Directorate of Public Instruction in the year 1965 with a view to administering exclusively the Collegiate Education. Tamil Nadu enjoys the privilege of being one of the most developed States in the field of Higher Education.

2.2 Presently 503 colleges are functioning under the administrative control of the Directorate of Collegiate Education as detailed below :

Starting of new courses

2.3 New job oriented Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) Courses have been started from 2003-04 under self financing basis in the constituent colleges. 41 new Under Graduate Arts and Science courses and 68 Post Graduate Arts and Science courses have been started under self financing basis in the Constituent Colleges. Introduction of new job oriented courses will enhance the employment opportunities of the students studying in these constituent colleges. 26 Job Oriented courses are offered in 28 colleges.

Accreditation of colleges in Tamil Nadu (NAAC)

2.4 In Tamil Nadu, a large number of Institutions have already been accredited by NAAC. As on date, a total number of 134 Arts and Science colleges and Colleges of Education in Tamil Nadu have been accredited by NAAC.

Functioning of Autonomous Colleges in the state

2.5 Tamil Nadu has been a pioneer in grant of autonomy to colleges. At present there are 67 Autonomous Colleges in the State of which 15 are Government, 45 are Government Aided and the remaining seven are self-financing institutions. Autonomy is granted to provide an opportunity to the educational institution to be more innovative and creative and thereby raise the academic standards. Under autonomy the colleges are empowered to have their own syllabus and authorized to conduct examinations themselves and evaluate the students. Grant of autonomy to colleges has been proved to be successful and effective in Tamil Nadu. The following may be stated as the achievements made so far due to granting autonomy to educational institutions:-

(i) Most of the autonomous colleges in Tamilnadu have revised their curriculum commensurate with the present day needs.

(ii) Some of the autonomous colleges in Tamil Nadu have introduced Choice Based Credit System so as to give full freedom to students to choose their subjects.

(iii) Most of the Colleges have introduced continuous internal assessments to evaluate the performance of their students.

(iv) Under Continuous Internal Assessment, a variety of tools like Periodical tests, Seminar, Assignment, Group Discussions are being used by the Teachers.

Teacher Education

2.6 At present there are 43 Colleges of Education in Tamil Nadu of which seven are Government Constituent Colleges. There are 14 Government Aided Colleges and 22 Self Financing Colleges of Education. Of the seven Government Constituent Colleges of Education, two enjoy the privilege of being Institutes of Advanced Study in Education. The Government of Tamil Nadu are very keen in improving the quality of Teacher Education.

2.7 A sum of Rs. 236.26 lakhs has been sanctioned for Teacher Education for two Institutes of Advanced Studies in Education (IASEs) and five Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs) in Tamil Nadu for the year 2004-2005.

2.8 The Institute of Advanced Studies in Education and CTEs are providing Inservice Training to the teacher educators in CTEs, IASEs, Teacher Educators in DIETs, School Teachers in High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools. This In service Training programme improves the quality of education in the colleges and schools.

Special repairs and maintenance works in Government Constituent Colleges

2.9 As it was done during the previous year, during 2004-05 also funds were provided to the Government Constituent Colleges for carrying out Special Repairs and Maintenance Works and the funds were allocated by conducting Counseling sessions in the presence of the Superintending Engineer (Technical Education), respective Executive Engineers and the Principals of the Government Constituent Colleges concerned. Priority has been given for providing fire extinguishers. During 2005-2006 a sum Rs.5,72,00,000/- had been allocated to all 67 Government Constituent colleges.

National Service Scheme (N.S.S)

2.10 National Service Scheme is implemented in Universities, Colleges, Polytechnic Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools. The expenditure is shared by the Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu at the ratio of 7:5. The Universities and Colleges including Polytechnics and Higher Secondary Schools had 2,30,000 volunteers during the year 2003-2004 and it was enhanced to 2,53,000 volunteers during the year 2004-2005 and among them 1,26,500 volunteers participated in the special camping programmes during the year 2004-2005. At present there are 1815 NSS Units functioning in Universities, Colleges and Technical institutions and 1430 Units in Higher Secondary Schools.

Empowerment of Women

Free coaching exclusively for women students for appearing in IAS / IPS Examination.

2.11 To enable women students to appear in the I.A.S./I.P.S. examinations, two centres one at Queen Mary’s College, Chennai and the other at Arulmigu Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women, Madurai have been established by the Government to give free coaching to women students. In each centre, 60 women students are given free coaching for appearing in IAS/IPS Examinations. During the current financial year, the Government have provided a sum of Rs. 10 lakhs for implementing this scheme.

Scholarship Schemes

2.12 Following Scholarships are being awarded by the Directorate of Collegiate Education.

1 National Merit Scholarships (Government of India)

2 State Scholarships for the children of school teachers

3 State Merit Scholarship

4 Adhoc Merit Grant for S.C & S.T. students

5 State Collegiate Scholarships

6 Scholarships to Tamil Nadu students pursuing research studies in Jawharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

7 Scholarships to cadets belonging to Tamil Nadu in Rashtriya Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun.

8 Scholarships to cadets belonging to Tamil Nadu in National Defence Academy, Kadakvasala, Pune.

9. Educational concessions to the children of Defence Service Personnel

10. Educational concessions to the children of ex-service men

11. Scheme of payment of stipend to full time Ph.D. research scholars in Govt. and aided colleges.

Award of Scholarships for Research Students

2.13 During the financial year 2005-2006, a sum of Rs.20.16 lakhs has also been sanctioned for awarding scholarship to research students.

Free education to poor girl students (Periyar EVR Nagammai Scheme)

2.14 Under this scheme, women students irrespective of their caste, creed and community and whose parental annual income does not exceed Rs.24000/- are exempted from payment of tuition fees in undergraduate courses. During the financial year 2005-06, a sum of Rs.65.00 lakhs has been allotted for this scheme.

Teachers Faculty Improvement Programme

2.15 With a view to encouraging research activities of the Lecturers working in Government constituent Colleges and to enabling them to update their knowledge teachers are deputed for research studies leading to M.Phil. and Ph.D. Degrees with UGC Assistance. During X Plan period, so far 82 lecturers have been permitted to undergo Faculty Improvement Programme.

Special coaching to SC/ST and MBC Students

2.16 Students studying in Government Constituent Colleges particularly in rural areas belonging to SC/ST and MBC communities find it difficult to get through the University examinations in English, Mathematics and Science Subjects. In order to make them fully conversant with these subjects, special coaching is given by way of remedial classes outside the class hours and also on weekends.

Appointment of Guest Lecturers

2.17 In the academic interest of the students, Guest Lecturers are appointed in the vacant teaching posts every year. During the year 2004-05, 1250 Guest Lecturers were appointed in all the Government Constituent Colleges.