Barely One In Ten Kids Have Higher Education Access

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) Less than one-tenth of college age Indians have access to higher education-- a level lower than even developing countries-- which the authorities hope to raise five per cent in five years, Parliament was told today.

The existing Gross Enrolment Ratio in 2006-07 for the relevant age group is 9.7 per cent, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari said in written replies in the Rajya Sabha.

She said the government proposed to increase higher education enrolment to 15 per cent by the end of the XIth Five Year Plan scheduled 2007-12.

She said that subject to availability of resources the government proposed to develop existing Universities to world standards.

On academic quality control, she said India's University Grants Commission supports Institutions which meet minimum academic and other standards and assistance to Universities, Departments or Colleges ''with potential for excellence.'' A National Assessment and Accreditation Council has yet to cover 50 per cent of Universities and 80 per cent of Colleges, she said, adding that Indian policy also permits private not-for-profit participation in higher education.

She said the government plans to set up 30 central universities, including 16 in States-- Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand-- that have none. Each is estimated to cost Rs 300 crore.

India currently has 23 Central Universities in 14 States or Union Territories under the HRD Ministry's purview.

Also on cards: -- A Bill in the current session of Parliament to set up a Central Tribal University; and -- Three new Indian Institutes of Technology in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, each of which will admit 3000 students.

The land for the new IITs will be provided by the respective State governments and recurring and non-recurring costs borne by the Central government. No public-private partnership is contemplated.

UNI