Kerala has among the lowest coverage of higher education institutions to be accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in the country – a dismally low 20 per cent.

The lamentable scenario finds mention in a manual released by NAAC recently to introduce provisional accreditation for colleges (PAC).

While its aggregate matches the national average, Kerala fares better than only eight States, viz., Bihar (19%), Chattisgarh (17%), Uttarakhand (14%), Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (both 13%), Telangana (12%), Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan (both 8%).

According to official statistics, 275 higher education institutions – eight universities and 267 colleges – have been accredited by NAAC in the State as of October 26 last.

Barring Mizoram (71%), Ladakh (60%) and Chandigarh (60%), no other State or Union Territory has managed to ensure accreditation for at least half of their institutions. The manual also stated that only 8,483 out of the 42,343 higher education institutions in the country have obtained NAAC accreditation this far.

In a bid to encourage more institutions to undergo assessment and accreditation, the apex accreditation body has introduced provisional accreditation that would enable institutions that have completed one academic year to apply.

Currently, only those universities or colleges that have completed six years of existence or had at least two batches of students graduated can apply for NAAC accreditation. PAC will have a validity of two years. Colleges can opt for the provisional accreditation for a maximum of two consecutive years before or after going in for regular assessment and accreditation process.

While lamenting the abysmal rate of accreditation, academics have raised caution against the hazards of granting provisional accreditation to colleges that lack facilities.

“While aiming for the massification of higher education, utmost priority must be given to ensure quality assurance. NAAC accreditation, which has remained a yardstick of quality for long, has immense relevance in the present times. The move to grant accreditation without the prerequisite facilities under such circumstances could defeat its original purpose,” cautions Rajan Varughese, member secretary, Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC).

The KSHEC recently launched the State Assessment and Accreditation Centre (SAAC) to prepare colleges for NAAC accreditation. Bishop Moore in Mavelikara and Farook Training College in Kozhikode have been awarded SAAC accreditation, while the preliminary steps for assessing more colleges were progressing.