In a major overhaul, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has removed 900 peer assessors from their evaluation duties due to concerns over misconduct and irregularities in the grading of higher education institutions.
The decision comes after an 18-month-long review of assessors’ performance and conduct. However, the process was expedited following the recent NAAC-Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF) corruption case in Andhra Pradesh.
Why Were the Assessors Removed?
NAAC Director Ganesan Kannabiran revealed that the review focused on various aspects such as:
- Performance and feedback.
- Deviations from standard evaluation protocols.
- Irregular practices, including assessors traveling a day before evaluations, providing incorrect information, and choosing institutions based on personal preference.
“Out of 5,000 assessors, we had to remove 900 after careful scrutiny. We identified credibility issues through multiple reports and feedback,” Mr. Kannabiran told The Hindu.
The Andhra Pradesh Corruption Scandal
The clean-up effort gained urgency after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched an inquiry into allegations that the Guntur-based KLEF bribed a NAAC assessment team to secure an A++ rating for its university. In response, seven peer assessors involved in the case were debarred.
Following this scandal, the NAAC has set up multiple committees to review irregularities subject-wise and region-wise to ensure such issues do not occur again.
New Recruits and a Shift to Online Evaluations
Alongside removing 900 assessors, the NAAC has recruited 1,000 new evaluators in three rounds over the past year. The selection was done based on recommendations from a committee of Vice-Chancellors to ensure credibility.
To enhance transparency and accountability, the NAAC is also transitioning to online and hybrid evaluations, reducing the risks of manipulation. “This approach eliminates integrity issues. While challenges exist, we aim to address them within the next two-and-a-half months through training,” Mr. Kannabiran explained.
UGC Supports NAAC’s Reform Measures
University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar welcomed the changes, stating that the NAAC has implemented major reforms to enhance integrity and transparency in the accreditation process.
“The UGC fully supports the NAAC’s firm actions in strengthening the credibility and reliability of higher education accreditation,” he said.
With these measures in place, the NAAC aims to rebuild trust in its evaluation process, ensuring that higher education institutions receive fair and unbiased accreditation.