Politics of Ranking and Accreditation
Karamala Areesh Kumar, Akshita Malik | 14 February 2025 | Deccan Herald
Education is a significant medium of progress and development in society, it is vital in structuring student's career in today's competitive world. The reputation of a university or college can letermine employment prospects, research access, and even social standing. Parents dream of sending them to the best schools to provide the finest opportunity and secure a bright future. But what if the very system that determines the quality of an institution is flawed? What if rankings and accreditations can be priced?
The recent National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) bribery scandal has laid bare deep flaws in India's higher education accreditation system. A high-profile investigation by the CBI led to the arrest of 10 individuals on February 1, including university vice-chancellors, directors, and even a professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University. According to the CBI, an inspection committee from NAAC demanded a bribe of Rs 180 crore from the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation in Andhra Pradesh in exchange for a favourable accreditation rating…