Context:

• Recent arrests of senior officials, including a vice-chancellor and members of the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC), highlight the deep-seated corruption in the education accreditation system.
• This raises concerns about the credibility of educational institutions and the effectiveness of past reforms in ensuring transparency.

The Evolution of Accreditation Reforms:

• Over a decade ago, transparency and accountability were introduced in the accreditation process.
• Digitalization of applications, processing, and final approvals reduced direct interactions and minimized corruption.
• The system gained credibility, yet loopholes remain, allowing unethical practices to persist. 

Challenges in Regulatory Systems:

• Regulatory agencies inherently provide opportunities for corruption due to discretionary powers and monopolistic controls.
• The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was once plagued by systemic corruption.
• Reforms introduced in AICTE, such as e-governance and staff restructuring (completely replacing employees on deputation with permanent staff, who are transferred periodically), improved accountability.
• Today, the AICTE and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) enjoy a fair degree of credibility.
• Though the system is still not fool proof and securing it against corruption remains a work in progress, other regulatory agencies could learn from AICTE’s experience. 

Corruption Beyond Government Institutions:

• Corruption is not confined to government agencies; private educational institutions also indulge in unethical practices.
• Institutions seek higher rankings to attract students and justify higher fees, making them willing to manipulate the system.
• The government must lead the way in ensuring transparency and good governance.

Need for Further Reforms:

• Technological interventions such as digital verification and third-party audits can enhance credibility.
• The proposed binary accreditation by NAAC may simplify the process but risks ignoring qualitative aspects of education.
• Mandatory document uploads through secure platforms like DigiLocker can enhance transparency and accountability.

Cultural and Systemic Changes Needed:

• Experts emphasized that integrity and transparency must be ingrained as fundamental values.
• Individual actions alone are insufficient; collective action and systemic shifts are required.
• As corruption may be as old as human history, eliminating corruption completely may be unrealistic. However, stringent measures can significantly reduce its impact.
• Regulatory heads and vice-chancellors must lead by example. This could be the precursor to systemic change.

Conclusion:

• The cost of corruption in education is ultimately borne by students and taxpayers.
• Regulatory bodies and institutional heads must lead by example to ensure a fair and transparent accreditation system.
• A corruption-free education sector is crucial for fulfilling the aspirations of a growing and knowledge-driven society.