Ensuring Integrity in Higher Education - Addressing Corruption in Accreditation

Context:

• Recent arrests of senior officials, including a vice-chancellor and members of the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC), highlight the deep-seated corruption in the education accreditation system.
• This raises concerns about the credibility of educational institutions and the effectiveness of past reforms in ensuring transparency.

The Evolution of Accreditation Reforms:

• Over a decade ago, transparency and accountability were introduced in the accreditation process.
• Digitalization of applications, processing, and final approvals reduced direct interactions and minimized corruption.
• The system gained credibility, yet loopholes remain, allowing unethical practices to persist. 

Challenges in Regulatory Systems:

• Regulatory agencies inherently provide opportunities for corruption due to discretionary powers and monopolistic controls.
• The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was once plagued by systemic corruption.
• Reforms introduced in AICTE, such as e-governance and staff restructuring (completely replacing employees on deputation with permanent staff, who are transferred periodically), improved accountability.
• Today, the AICTE and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) enjoy a fair degree of credibility.
• Though the system is still not fool proof and securing it against corruption remains a work in progress, other regulatory agencies could learn from AICTE’s experience. 

Corruption Beyond Government Institutions:

• Corruption is not confined to government agencies; private educational institutions also indulge in unethical practices.
• Institutions seek higher rankings to attract students and justify higher fees, making them willing to manipulate the system.
• The government must lead the way in ensuring transparency and good governance.

Need for Further Reforms:

• Technological interventions such as digital verification and third-party audits can enhance credibility.
• The proposed binary accreditation by NAAC may simplify the process but risks ignoring qualitative aspects of education.
• Mandatory document uploads through secure platforms like DigiLocker can enhance transparency and accountability.

Cultural and Systemic Changes Needed:

• Experts emphasized that integrity and transparency must be ingrained as fundamental values.
• Individual actions alone are insufficient; collective action and systemic shifts are required.
• As corruption may be as old as human history, eliminating corruption completely may be unrealistic. However, stringent measures can significantly reduce its impact.
• Regulatory heads and vice-chancellors must lead by example. This could be the precursor to systemic change.

Conclusion:

• The cost of corruption in education is ultimately borne by students and taxpayers.
• Regulatory bodies and institutional heads must lead by example to ensure a fair and transparent accreditation system.
• A corruption-free education sector is crucial for fulfilling the aspirations of a growing and knowledge-driven society.

Q1. What are the key challenges faced by regulatory agencies in ensuring transparency in higher education accreditation?

Ans. Regulatory agencies face issues like discretionary powers, monopolistic control, and lack of transparency, which create opportunities for corruption.

Q2. How did reforms in AICTE contribute to reducing corruption in accreditation processes?

Ans. AICTE introduced digital governance, minimized direct interactions, implemented staff restructuring, and ensured stringent checks and balances, enhancing transparency and credibility.

Q3. In what ways do private institutions participate in accreditation corruption?

Ans. Private institutions manipulate rankings for financial benefits, including higher fees and the sale of management seats, making corruption a systemic issue beyond just public bodies.

Q4. What technological interventions can be implemented to curb corruption in education accreditation?

Ans. Measures such as third-party audits, real-time data verification, secure cloud-based document storage (e.g., DigiLocker), and automated flagging of discrepancies can enhance accountability.

Q5. How can a paradigm shift be achieved to ensure integrity in the education system?

Ans. Instilling fundamental values of integrity, collective action against corruption, and leveraging technology-driven reforms can create a long-term shift towards transparency and accountability. 

Source:IE