Dozens of degree colleges in J&K without NAAC accreditation for years

Srinagar, Sep 12: Dozens of the Government Degree Colleges (GDC) in Jammu and Kashmir are without National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grading for years together following the expiry of their previous cycle of accreditations.

The colleges include some leading colleges of city including Amar Singh College Srinagar, Abdul Ahad Azad Memorial (AAM) College Bemina, Government College for Women, MA Road Srinagar.

An official said the previous cycle of Amar Singh College Srinagar expired few years ago along with AAM Bemina and the fresh cycle of Accreditation was awaited.

"The previous accreditation cycle of GCW MA Road has also expired and the fresh cycle of accreditation by NAAC is awaited for this college as well," the official said. The NAAC accreditation is awaited despite the strict instructions from University Grants Commission (UGC), making NAAC accreditation compulsory for all higher education institutions.

The official however said that the delay was not only on part of the respective colleges but the NAAC as well. "There was some communication of a few colleges with NAAC and the institutions were ready for the fresh evaluation by NAAC. But there has been some delay on part of NAAC," he said. The official further said that the absence of NAAC evaluation mars the credibility of these higher educational institutions as all of them mention their previous accreditation status which has already expired. "Even there is no clarity on if the colleges can mention their previous NAAC grade on the degree certificates and other official documents," the official told Greater Kashmir.

As already reported by this newspaper NAAC accreditation plays a vital role in getting the central grants, research projects besides overall development of the institution. Director Colleges J&K, Prof Sheikh Aijaz Bashir when contacted admitted that the previous cycle of NAAC accreditation of various colleges had expired while the fresh evaluation and assessment was awaited. "The previous NAAC accreditation of various degree colleges has expired and they are waiting for a fresh cycle of assessment and evaluation but there is some from NAAC," he said. He said the NAAC visit to a few colleges was on cards but there has been no communication from NAAC and no fresh accreditation has been awarded to colleges for the last one and a half year.

"Since the process of evaluation and assessment has been shifted to online mode, they (NAAC) have not notified any dates for their visit," Director Colleges told Greater Kashmir.

When asked whether the previous expired NAAC accreditation was legally and logically valid for mentioning on degree certificates and official documents, Director Colleges said the accreditation of all institutions improves during every fresh cycle of assessment. "NAAC grading of every institution improves in their fresh cycle of evaluation. So by that logic the previous grading remains valid till new is awarded," he said.

Earlier, NAAC announced a new online mode of assessment powered by Artificial Intelligence, replacing the three-decades-old mechanism of physical visits to the higher educational institutions.

As per the new framework, the existing rating scale will be replaced with a simpler outcome wherein the institutions will now be marked as either 'Accredited' or 'Not Accredited'.

Also, as per the recommendations of Dr. Radhakrishnan Committee put forth in February this year, the HEIs in Cycle 2 and above under RAF will retain the validity of their present grade until the Basic accreditation and MBGL are launched while the HEIs in Cycle 1 under RAF will be given the option to opt for Basic accreditation.

"If any of the HEIs in the above categories of (1) and (2) still wish to proceed with assessment as per the existing RAF, the peer team assessment will be carried out through an Online mode for colleges and Hybrid mode (with online and physical) in case of universities. Detailed process and SoPs for Online and Hybrid visits will be shared shortly with the HEIs," reads an official document signed by Director NAAC in February this year.