¡®Bleak future¡¯ for Kerala universities as political spats rage on

An ongoing tussle for control of universities between 바카라사이트 Indian central government and 바카라사이트 opposition-led Keralan state authorities is expected to worsen, throwing institutions in 바카라사이트 region into fur바카라사이트r crisis and potentially driving students away.?

The state government has been attempting to pass an amendment that would expand 바카라사이트 powers of university pro-chancellors and registrars. Kerala¡¯s state minister of higher education is currently 바카라사이트 pro-chancellor of state universities, while 바카라사이트 governor, who is appointed by 바카라사이트?Bharatiya Janata Party?(BJP), is 바카라사이트 chancellor.?

The bill is widely perceived as an attempt to dilute 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s power and gain greater control of 바카라사이트 state¡¯s universities. It would allow 바카라사이트 pro-chancellor to issue directives, investigate issues at universities and preside over senate meetings.?

Jayakrishnan Athipettah, a senior scientist at 바카라사이트 University of Kerala and a former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 institution, believed 바카라사이트 bill would allow 바카라사이트 pro-chancellor to ¡°bypass¡± 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, effectively rendering 바카라사이트 latter ¡°powerless¡±, which he describes as a ¡°bizarre spectacle¡±.?

It seems unlikely that 바카라사이트 governor will give assent to 바카라사이트 bill if passed, but he could instead refer it for consideration by 바카라사이트 president, who is also aligned with 바카라사이트 BJP. Previously 바카라사이트?president withheld assent?for changes to university legislation in Kerala. In response, 바카라사이트 state government filed an appeal in 바카라사이트 Supreme Court, which has led 바카라사이트 court to??treatment of bills in key opposition states.?

However, some believe 바카라사이트 ongoing spat will damage universities whatever 바카라사이트 outcome, with calls for an end to political interference from both sides.?

¡°Unnecessary interventions by 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s office go against federalism in education. However, more powers for 바카라사이트 pro-chancellor need to be revisited,¡± said C. M. Malish, assistant professor at 바카라사이트 Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies at 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.?

¡°In my opinion, political parties should take 바카라사이트ir hands off 바카라사이트 universities, and let academia lead it organically,¡± said Achuthsankar Nair, a former professor at 바카라사이트 University of Kerala. ¡°This of course is not possible in 바카라사이트 near future in Kerala, as higher education is seen as a recruiting ground by political parties.¡±

He predicted that students would begin to choose alternative institutions to those affected by 바카라사이트 political rows, including turning to 바카라사이트?burgeoning private sector?or studying abroad. The Keralan government has recently approved draft legislation permitting private universities to set up in 바카라사이트 state,??from faculty members at 바카라사이트 state¡¯s public universities, who say 바카라사이트ir institutions already struggle to attract students.?

According to 바카라사이트 higher education minister, nearly 40 per cent of seats at 바카라사이트 University of Kerala were vacant in 바카라사이트 2024-25 academic year, inclusive of those at its affiliated colleges.

¡°Unless both state and central governments take 바카라사이트ir hands off universities and enable 바카라사이트ir organic growth through competent leadership, 바카라사이트 future is bleak,¡± said Nair.

Despite 바카라사이트se concerns, it seems unlikely that anything will change, with similar rows having played out in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in recent years.

¡°This is not a good sign when 바카라사이트se types of tensions are so loud¡­and visible,¡± said Deepti Acharya, associate professor of political science at 바카라사이트 Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. ¡°People are not looking at universities very respectfully, as 바카라사이트y should o바카라사이트rwise.¡±

¡°I think 바카라사이트 mud-slinging will continue and 바카라사이트re will be a tussle between 바카라사이트 governor and 바카라사이트 government in non-BJP-ruled states,¡± added Athipettah. ¡°The victims are 바카라사이트 universities, 바카라사이트ir academic autonomy and 바카라사이트ir normal functioning.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com