Kerala Assembly Clears Way For Private Universities To Operate
The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the Private Universities Bill, on Tuesday. The bill clears the path for private universities to operate in the state. The new legislation marks a significant step in the state’s higher education landscape. The Bill sparked intense debates and raised strong opposition concerns.
Opposition parties raised concerns regarding several amendments and fee structures and admission policies. However, opposition did not yet reject the bill, they expressed serious reservations. Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan pointed out concerns over impact of private universities on public universities and colleges.
Read also: Madhya Pradesh To Announce Twice-A-Year Board Exams
As per the State Higher Education Minister R Bindu, the bill is progressive for Kerala’s education sector and government will take strict regulations to maintain academic standards in private universities.
Notably, the Private universities will have their own governing bodies, including chancellors and vice-chancellors. The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) will oversee compliance. The bill mandates reservation and inclusivity to align with state policies.
The Kerala government will have some control over academic and administrative matters. Also, Private universities must submit annual reports for review.
Read also: Elon Musk Mocks Scrapping US Department Of Education; Draws Criticism
However, fear exists that education will become profit-driven, reducing access for economically weaker students. Concerns are being raised over the compromise on Quality of education provided by the private universities as they may prioritize profits over academic excellence.
There are concerns about the government oversight. Unlike public universities, private universities may have more autonomy, raising concerns about lack of accountability. There are ongoing debate over whether private universities will follow Kerala’s reservation policies effectively.
