Faculty Shortage, Poor Oversight Plague Minority Institutions: NCMEI Holds Hearing in Pune
Pune, 30th June 2025: In a significant development for the minority education sector, Prof. (Dr.) Shahid Akhter, Member of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), held a special awareness meeting in Pune with heads of various minority-run primary, secondary, and higher secondary institutions. The meeting was aimed at addressing the growing challenges faced by institutions established and administered by minority communities.
During the session, Dr. Akhter chaired a hearing that focused on faculty shortages, infrastructure gaps, and the slow implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in minority institutions. He directed officials from the state education department to fast-track the execution of NEP provisions specific to minority education and to expedite the appointment of faculty members in aided institutions, where prolonged vacancies have impacted educational quality.
Dr. Akhter also urged educational stakeholders to organize workshops and seminars to promote awareness of the constitutional rights of minorities, as enshrined in Article 30 of the Constitution and further reinforced through the Right to Education Act and NEP 2020.
“Empowering minority institutions through timely implementation of policy, proper staffing, and awareness is essential for building an inclusive education system,” said Dr. Akhter.
In a parallel discussion on minority education reforms, well-known educationist Saleem Mulla voiced strong concerns about the declining standards and lack of accountability in several government-aided minority institutions. He alleged that many of these institutions are not delivering the intended benefits to students, despite holding recognized minority status and receiving government support.
“Minority institutions are not playing a meaningful role in ensuring that state and central government benefits actually reach the students. It’s high time these institutions are investigated for acts of omission and commission,” Mulla said.
He further criticized what he described as suspicious functioning of old granted institutions, saying they lack transparency and professionalism. According to Mulla, the original mission of minority education — to uplift disadvantaged communities — is being compromised.
“The standards have gone down, and students are suffering as a result,” he added.
Mulla’s remarks, echoing some of the concerns highlighted by Dr. Akhter, have sparked renewed calls from the academic community and civil society for greater oversight, performance audits, and transparency in the functioning of minority-run institutions, particularly those receiving public funding.
The developments underline an urgent need for policy enforcement, institutional reform, and community awareness to ensure that minority students receive the quality education they are constitutionally entitled to.
