The Hindu : Karnataka News : No decision on cut in funds for higher education: Manjunath

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 13, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

No decision on cut in funds for higher education: Manjunath

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA, DEC. 12. The Minister for Higher Education, D. Manjunath, said here on Sunday that the State Government had not decided to cut the allocation for higher education by 15 per cent, as planned by the previous Congress dispensation.

Mr. Manjunath said various aspects of the proposal are being looked into. It will have a serious impact on colleges in rural areas where the scope for starting self-financing courses to raise resources is limited. However, urban colleges will be able to offer such courses.

Recruitment

On the growing number of vacant posts of teacher in Government and aided colleges following a ban on recruitment, Mr. Manjunath said it has been decided to fill half of those in Government colleges immediately. The Finance Department has approved the move.

He said the Directorate of Collegiate Education has been asked to appoint guest lecturers to the more than 300 vacancies. They will take classes till the Karnataka Public Service Commission recruits permanent staff.

The Minister said the Government has also decided to transfer excess teachers, particularly in science subjects, to colleges that have vacancies.

However, no decision has been taken to allow aided colleges to fill up vacancies or appoint guest lecturers. Mr. Manjunath said a decision will be taken after thorough discussions.

Asked if there is any proposal to get the universities Act, 2000 amended as demanded by the representatives of teachers, Mr. Manjunath there was no such proposal, though the Act needed many changes to bring back accountability in the functioning of universities.

He said the move to amend the universities Act, 1976 was mooted when he was the Minister for Higher Education in the earlier Janata Dal Government, but he thwarted it since that Act required no changes. However, the previous S.M. Krishna Government got the Act amended, taking away transparency in the functioning of universities by abolishing the Senate and closing the doors for appointment of elected representatives to the Academic Council and the Syndicate.

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