International Journal of Educational Science and Research (IJESR) ISSN(P): 2249-6947; ISSN(E): 2249-8052 Vol.

4, Issue 1, Feb 2014, 59-62 TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE COLLEGE AND ROLE OF PRINCIPAL AN OVERVIEW

GEETA VERMA NEE SINGH Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, C.S. A. Government P.G. Nodal College, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT
A principal or institutional head plays a significant role and contributes a major part in the progress as well as quality of education at the college level. A principal is an individual who directs and monitors the academic and non-academic activities within a college environment. Education lays the foundation of the nation and builds our society. In this direction college education plays a vital role in the healthy proper growth of a country. In the present paper we will concentrate and dwell on some important issues that have major effect on the quality of education and working efficiency of college principal or institutional head.

KEYWORDS: Tertiary Education, Faculty Member, Healthy Environment, Inherent Talent, Intellectual Insight,
Multifaceted Talents, Dynamism

INTRODUCTION
India's higher education system is the third largest in the world, next to the United States and China. Distance learning and open education is also a feature of the Indian higher education system and is supervised by the Distance Education Council. Some institutions of India, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), National Institute of Technology (NITs), Mody Institute of Technology and Science and Jawaharlal Nehru University have been globally acclaimed for their standard of education. India's education system is divided into different levels such as pre-primary level, primary level, elementary education, secondary education and tertiary undergraduate and postgraduate level Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world Nelson Mandela Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from generation to another G. K .Chesterson Above quotes, show that our education system must be very strong, effective and productive in nature. As it lays the foundation of the nation and builds our society. The well-educated nation has many more advantages over non-educated nation since long period of time. In this direction college education plays a vital role in the healthy proper growth of a country. It is a kind of a tertiary level education which is a part of our education system and contributes the highest role to the social and economic development of the nation. In India the main governing body at the tertiary level is the University Grants Commission, which imposes its standards, advises the government, and helps coordinate between the centre and the state. In my views, the college education is like a centre of the circle from which many lines can be drawn towards the circumferences, i.e. Nation. For example, it may be a path that goes to the medical field, engineering, law, politics, administration, media, teaching, business and research field etc.

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So when all above important people are output of our education system then it becomes very essential to have a quality of education at the college level. Present status of education in many parts of India is not much satisfying. There is a regular decline in quality of education day by day. Now we must have to think over it. Why this trend has been developing? If we try to go deep into this direction and dwell on these important issues then surely we would be able to find an answer. Indian population have shown remarkable increase in last decades, due to rapid increase in Indian population social diseases like unemployment, crime, poverty, corruption, decline in moral and ethical values among the todays generation is making permanent place. As, we are living in a cut throat competitive world where everyone is after money. People usually dont take much interest to adopt the path that requires a lot of hard work, patience, sincerity, positive, motivational and selfless attitude etc. Most of the people want to be successful through a shortcut route in order to gain name and fame. A principal plays a significant role and contributes a major part in the progress as well as quality of education at the college level. A principal is an individual who directs and monitors the academic and non-academic activities within the college environment. A college without principal is just like a train which does not possess driver . The principal gives right direction to the faculty members, office staffs, students and employees and ultimate result will be the total development of the college in all aspects. As far as we talk about the quality of education and progress of a particular college it would be a true reflection of the principal s hard work, sincerity, time management, academic as well as administrative skills. A principal has a very important role to fulfill in their daily job duties, commitments and responsibilities. In my views first and foremost quality, being a principal, must be persons keen interest, vision and inclinations towards a future position in order to fulfill his dream through his hard work, dynamism, intellectual, multifaceted talents and power. Because in my opinion persons interest in any occupation is like a seed and when it is planted with opportunity, power, position and finances get transformed into a healthy and fruitful tree. Due to the supreme role of a principal, if the person either wants to be a head of the college only to achieve name, wealth, and power or in other way wishes to complete his service tenure. Then they should not go ahead or enter the profession. Such type passive attitude of a person would not contribute anything regarding the quality as well as the progress of the college. He should be a soft spoken person because language is a mirror of personality. The principal must monitor and supervise all activities either academics or co- curricular within their college and be the leader of it all, so the principal should have excellent leadership skills.Good conversational skills are another positive trait principal should possess. A principal should also have good problem solving skills as they will need to solve many problems during their role as principal. Thus he should be a good listener and also ready to assimilate valuable suggestions and views of everyone. He should provide equal chances to the concern person during conversations and his final decision should be a reflection of his intellectual insight. These problems may range anywhere from disciplinary actions for students to finding a way to fund certain college programs. A principal should take advantage of faculty members talent, excellent ideas, and positive attitude and mingles with them to achieve the quality of work from them. Because every person is gifted by God with some inherent talent, the only need is to be recognized by others or to change our outlook. A college principal must encourage faculty members and students especially postgraduate students for research, seminars and other more similar activities. A principal, head or chief of any institution always have a key role and becomes a source to his employees in order to inspire, guide, support and protect them in all aspects. Besides all these above mentioned qualities, basic living facilities and conditions provided to the institutional head or college principal also have a strong impact on his working especially whenever we take or discuss a case related to a smaller place or area, improper, old, deteriorated accommodation

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facilities provided by either governmental or private bodies should be necessarily improved. As basis living needs like infrastructure of allotted bungalows and domestic helpers like trained cook, washer man, security person and emergency medical aid play and work as a necessary core part in those cases, where head or chief due to unfavorable living condition compel to live alone and perform their duties due to job commitment and their family members are not able to live with them. According to Canadian endocrinologist, Hans Selye, mental stress is a root cause of common modern illness. Increased blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, cardiovascular, and renal diseases are very common among the high profile officers due to constant stress as they have to fulfill in their daily job duties, commitments and responsibilities. Health is really a multidimensional phenomenon involving interdependent physical, psychological and social aspects. Tension and stress are the two greatest threats to peace of mind in the modern world. Modern science and researchers also support these facts and prove that a person with cool, calm, anxiety and stress free state of mind could do better work more efficiently, timely and would definitely give his best to the institute or college as fundamental living and working conditions and facilities not only provides rest, harmony, comfort, peace and happiness at work place but also keep persons mind and body stress and disease free, respectively. Thus enables him to increase working power, efficiency and capabilities in many folds.

CONCLUSIONS
Last but not the least, I would like to say that it is not only principal whose role is important in the quality of education but overall interest, outlook, healthy environment, unity and cooperation of academic staffs, non-academic staffs and students is also equally important. As we know any organization, institute or college could not run by without them. So we should try to contribute our best effort to the college. The proverb says that, Many a little makes a mickle And, I also strongly believe in the following line, By Sr. Bacchan Koshish Karne Waalo Ki Kabhi Haar Nahi Hoti. As, God help those who help themselves

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank ASC-JNU New Delhi, where an interactive discussion, during UGC sponsored orientation course, I got a chance to listen, think and discuss various problems of Indian college principals who came there from all over India to attend UGC sponsored principal s workshop and thus inspired me to write a paper on the above topic. REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. En.wikipedia.org. www.timeshighereducation.co.uk. www.education.com Relief of Tension, Depression and Anxiety through Spiritual living, By Swami Tathagatananda.

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AUTHORS DETAILS

Dr. Geeta Verma nee Singh, received M.Sc (Organic Chemistry), from Lucknow University, U.P & completed her research work on the topic Synthesis of Novel Peptides of Biological Significance (having GH

releasing & immunosuppressant activity) from Central Drug Research Institute Lucknow, U.P & got Ph.D degree from Dr. R.M.L. Avadh University, Faizabad, U.P & M.A.(Eng) from Barkatullah Univeristy, Bhopal, M.P. Currently, She is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry in Chandra Shekhar Azad Govt P.G. Nodal College, Sehore, M.P. Her major areas of interests are Chemistry including Astrology, Spirituality, Vastu Shastra, English Literatures Social & Family related issues etc. She has publications in Journals, Peptides, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letter, Protein & Peptide Letters, Indian Journal of Fisheries, Journal of Aquaculture in Tropics, International Journal of English and Literature and one Indian Patent.