The Punjab government with a view to upgrade the standard of higher education and bring about transparency and accountability, the three member Cabinet committee set up by the Chief Minster Captain Amarinder Singh today held its maiden meeting with Chancellors and the Vice Chancellors of the private and government Universities. The meeting was presided over by the Medical Education Minister Mr. Brahm Mohindra, the other members of the committee Technical Education Minister Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi, Higher Education Minister Mrs Aruna Chaudhary were also present.Serious discussions were held in the meeting on the various aspects of the working of the future regulatory authority and development of higher education. Mr. Brahm Mohindra in the meeting said that the motive behind the formation of this body is to ensure the enforcement of all set norms and standards for all the government as well as the private institutes. He said that this meeting was called to collect the suggestions from all the stake holders.The Technical Education Minister Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi said that it is the need of the hour our private as well as government higher educational institutes must live up to the changing demands in the field of education as per needs of the industry. He said that the Congress has promised in its election manifesto to bring educational reforms by setting up of regulatory body.
On the sidelines of the meeting Mr. Channi while interacting with the media persons said that the committee members today discussed the various agenda items for the formation of the regulatory body with all the stakeholders and sought their written suggestions on the issue.Higher Education Minister Mrs Aruna Chaudhry said that any decision with regard to formation of regulatory body would be taken keeping in view the interests and future perceptive of the students. She said that the prime motive of this body would not be a usurping the autonomy the educational institutes but to ensure the quality education and implementation of the set standards of the education.Later in the day the delegation private colleges under the leadership of Mr. Ashwani Sekhri and Mr. Inderjit Singh Zira also had detailed meeting with cabinet committee members and flagged their apprehensions and suggestions about the regulatory body.Amongst others present in the meeting included Mr. S. K Sandhu ACS Higher Education, Mr. G. Vajralingam ACS Technical Education and Mr. Vikas Partap Singh Secretary Medical Education.