Updated on Wednesday, December 27, 2006, 00:00 IST

New Delhi, Dec 27: The move to invite foreign universities to offer education in India today came under attack from Vice Chairman of National Knowledge Commission P M Bhargava who said it would lead to commercialisation of higher education.

"This move is to commoditise education. Education is not at all a commodity," Bhargava said at the seminar on "Education Commission: Revisiting the Commission's Premises, Vision and Impact on Policy Formulation," organised by National University National University of Education Planning and Administration here.

"I strongly oppose the move of Commerce Ministry to invite the foreign universities into the country," he said.

Bhargava said the move will facilitate the second grade and third grade universities in abroad to come and set up their shops here.

"No good university will come. The second grade and third grade university will come and make profits in the name of quality education," he told a news agency later.

It will be difficult to monitor these institutions by the University Grants Commission, he said.

"Every university in India has the potentail to become institutes like Havard and Stanford. You have to take necessary steps."

Bureau Report