Does NAAC&#39;s grade really determine the quality of education at an institution?

Does NAAC's grade really determine the quality of education at an institution?

By Harasankar Adhikari
‘There is an incident that occurred at the examination during my first year at the high school and which is worth recording. Mr. Giles, the educational inspector, had come on a visit of inspection. He had set us five words to write as a spelling exercise. One of the words was 'kettle'. I had mis-spelt it. The teacher tried to prompt me with the point of his boot, but I would not be prompted. It was beyond me to see that he wanted me to copy the spelling from my neighbour's slate, for I had thought that the teacher was there to supervise us against copying. The result was that all the boys, except myself, were found to have spelled every word correctly. Only I had been stupid. The teacher tried later to bring this stupidity home to me, but without effect. I never could learn the art of 'copying'.' This is a reference story from Gandhi's autobiography about his honesty in his school days.
Why has this story been referred to in this writing? Because of the activities of the college administration and teachers of a college in Kolkata regarding the visit of NAAC officials for gradation of this college. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is deputed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to evaluate and guarantee a standard of higher education across the nation. It focuses on improving the quality of education. Thereafter, it is an assurance to improve the overall development of students by helping them inculcate skills and knowledge through their education. This accreditation categorises the institutions according to the "quality education" they offer. Provided that, it helps to access funding programmes by the federal and state governments. It is a venue to compete with private institutions. NAAC usually evaluates the quality of the institutions in respect of their education, research, faculty, infrastructure, teaching and learning system, student performance, etc.
Now the colleges are very hungry to get a better grade from the NAAC. So, the authority deliberately tries to fabricate the parameter of measurement. The institution is decorated for the very purpose of the NAAC visit. Infrastructure was borrowed temporarily. The students are being taught to tell lies to the NAAC for a better impression. Interestingly, when the washroom of a girls college is not cleaned once a week, it makes necessary arrangements like a washroom at an airport. The teaching quality is very poor. But the students have to tell NAAC it is the best. It has been noticed that the teachers are incompetent and are not regularly attending their classes on time. Even teachers instruct the parents to share fabricated information with the NAAC. The college has no regular classes one month or more before the scheduled visit of the NAAC. The authority does not think about their semester education, examinations, or results. It is a huge event for the students to be tolerant. Is there any importance to the NAAC gradation when an institution fails to carry out its regular jobs or qualitative teaching and learning with all modern facilities?
Sister Nivedita remarked, ‘Education, like growth, must always come from within. Only the inner struggle, only the will of the teacher, is of avail. Those who think otherwise do so only because they are ignorant of education as a science in itself.' She also warned, All the hammering in the world from outside would be useless. It will destroy one’s will to climb.’
Last of all, where are morality, responsibility, and honesty in higher education? What would the students teach their students if they became teachers? Is NAAC gradation essential to determine quality education? It should be revalued by all the authorities, policymakers, and other sensitive individuals.

Comments

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan* An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...

'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Labour unrest in Manesar trigger tensions: Recently enacted labour codes blamed

By A Representative A civil rights coalition has expressed concern over recent developments in the industrial hub of Manesar in Haryana, where a series of labour actions and police responses have drawn attention. A statement, released by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), said it stood in solidarity with workers in IMT Manesar and other parts of the country, while also alleging instances of police excess during ongoing unrest.

Search This Blog