PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) would prove to be a milestone in making the state’s higher education system data-driven, technology-driven, transparent, and results-driven, stated the Higher Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat on Thursday while inaugurating the Higher Education department’s regional office and VSK located at the School Education Directorate, Nanurkheda. “This centre will provide online data on the infrastructure, student numbers and basic amenities available at all government colleges and will also facilitate the transfer and promotion of teachers and non-teaching staff. The regional office will also play a crucial role in accelerating departmental activities,” he added.
He stated that under the NEP-2020, the VSK is being successfully operated within the state under the School Education Department. In this context, the regional office and VSKs were constructed under the Higher Education department at a cost of approximately Rs five crore. “This will be the country’s first Vidya Samiksha Kendra in the field of higher education. This center will now provide real-time monitoring of all government college infrastructure, student attendance, exam results, and teacher performance. The transfer and promotion process for teachers and non-teaching staff, as well as the effective implementation of departmental schemes, will also be conducted through these VSKs,” he declared.
He stated that through VSK, higher education would be further enhanced by reviewing the progress of schemes, resource utilisation and performance of institutions. “Furthermore, the information obtained will be analysed and used in policy formulation,” he said.
Rawat further said that Uttarakhand is the only state in the country which gave 50 per cent representation to girl students in student union elections. “This decision was appreciated across the country and many universities are now going to give more representation to girl students,” he added. “There is no college under the Higher Education department which does not have its own land and building. All the colleges have 100 per cent principals and faculty; various scholarships are being provided to encourage the students,” he claimed.
