Another U flip, LDF government in Kerala meditates on ‘Education City’ and foreign universities – Times of India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After opposing tooth and nail the final UDF government’s plans to arrange an `tutorial metropolis’ and greater schooling zones in affiliation with foreign varsities, the CPM led LDF government is testing waters for establishing an `Education City’ in affiliation with the foreign universities.

The state greater schooling division has arrange a committee led by AICTE vice chairman M P Poonia to review and submit a report on a proposal to arrange an “Education City’ in Kerala the place `world class schooling might be provided in collaboration with internationally acclaimed universities. The government order credited with the second version of Loka Kerala Sabha of Non Resident Keralites the thought for establishing an Educational City of worldwide requirements and collaboration. According to sources, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has taken particular curiosity in exploring additional the proposal, which many academicians in the left fold are discovering laborious to come back into phrases with.

It could also be famous that the Global Education meet organised by the state greater schooling council in 2016 has on its agenda the exact same factors. The CPM’s pupil wing SFI that opposed any dialogue in the route and held a large protest rally in entrance of the meet venue at Kovalam. One of the SFI leaders had even assaulted the then vice chairman of the council, T P Sreenivasan close to the meet venue.

Other members of the governmental committee that has been mandated to submit its findings and suggestions in three months embody YSR Murthy, registrar of Jindal Global University, Haryana, Sabu Thomas Vice chancellor, mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, S Ayoob, professional-vice chancellor, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Usha Titus, principal secretary, Higher schooling division.

SFI leaders mentioned they weren’t possession of particulars relating to the government transfer in direction of Education City. “We are not against steps for improving the quality of education. But, there is no change in our stand against private universities and commercialisation of education. We have no reasons to believe that the LDF government will deviate from the left policies and follow the distorted ones followed by the UDF. Being a student organisation, SFI would resist any move that could foster inequality in the higher education sector. But, things are in a fluid stage now, let there be concrete proposals and decisions, we will then definitely make our stand clear”, mentioned SFI state secretary Sachin Dev.

Former ambassador and greater schooling council vice chairman T P Sreenivsan mentioned the government transfer was congratulatory. “However, unless you allow private universities to function intendedly, there is going to be no use for Education City. There should be a broad consensus on this aspect”, he mentioned.