UGC target: 8.4 mn new enrolments by 2012

Institutions of higher learning need to admit around 8.4 million new students in the 11th Plan period to increase the university level enrolment by 5 per cent by the end of the Plan, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has said in its approach paper to the Plan.

The enrolment rate by the end of 10th Plan, 2007, is estimated at 10 per cent. The 11th Plan has set a target of 15 per cent enrolment. The number of enrolled students in 2004-2005 is estimated at more than 10.4 million.

The paper said the country had made significant progress in providing people access to higher education. This, it said, is shown by the increase in the enrolment rate from 0.7 per cent in 1950 to close to 10 per cent in 2006. If diploma and certificate courses are taken into account, the figure touches 13-14 per cent, the report says, referring to the National Sample Survey and the Census.

Out of the targeted intake of 8.4 million students, 45-50 lakh will be in the general education stream and the remaining in technical and professional streams, the paper says.

To achieve this, the UGC has proposed a two-pronged strategy. "The UGC will give grants to strengthen physical infrastructure. At present, the UGC supports about 6,000 colleges and 167 universities," the paper says. The second part of the plan is to increase the number of universities and colleges the commission helps.

Recent remarks by the prime minister announcing setting up of central universities in 16 states and colleges in 355 educationally backward districts can give a fillip to capacity building. The initiative will ensure that all states have a central university.

The UGC paper requests state governments to take initiatives to increase the number of universities and colleges in their states and to work out a strategy for more equity in higher education.

The UGC at present assists the 350 educationally backward districts which have enrolment rates of less than the national average.

"In 29 districts, the enrolment is below 5 per cent. Another 209 districts have enrolment rates in the range of 5-10 per cent," the paper says.