Nellore: Well-known commentator and Professor of Journalism in Osmania University K. Nageshwar has sounded a warning about the impending dangers of the attempts to privatise higher education.

Addressing a seminar on `Higher Education and its Future', organised by the Higher Education Protection Committee, at Z.P. meeting hall, here on Sunday, he detested the attempts to promote education as a ` liberalised commodity of the world,' by our rulers.

Prof. Nageshwar, advised people to give up their notion that under private managements, pay scales will be highly encouraging and there will be bright future.

Sales executives

In this connection, he referred to the appointment of so-called marketing and sales executives by private universities, virtually to sell education at doorstep.

"When such steps are undertaken, one cannot expect any quality," he pointed. He also referred to the contract lecturer system in the colleges being adopted by the Government and said their conditions have not improved so far. On the other hand, the proliferation of private educational institutions will herald a virtual parallel education system, he warned

Since money and other resources are no problem to the promoters of private educational institutions, they will stoop any extent, to create a favourable impression among prospective students, said Prof. Nageshwar.

They can even rope popular film stars to woo students, he said and pointed as to how a film star, Chiranjeevi, has been engaged by a beverages company, to promote its products, to counter criticism.

Allocation of funds

He referred to the dismal allocation of funds to higher education, by respective Governments and said this has set in a death knell to education in the country.

According to Prof. Nageshwar, the proliferation of private/foreign institutions, will roll out students with alien culture, besides promoting demand for foreign goods.

He made a fervent appeal to all, to oppose Government's attempts to privatise higher education and create favourable atmosphere among people.

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