Kerala - Kochi   

Kunhali Marakkar school opened

KOCHI: The State government has approached the Union Defence Ministry for obtaining an old warship for the students of the Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat). This was announced by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan while inaugurating the Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering of the Cusat here on Sunday.

Though there is steep increase in trade through sea routes, there is the acute shortage of trained seamen. The Cusat centre should be able to attract students from the country and also abroad for training, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

The Cusat should strive for independent development while maintaining the reservation system, Mr. Achuthanandan suggested.

Kunjali Marakkar fought against the colonialist forces, including Europeans, in sea. The State also has a very proud maritime history dating back to centuries, he said.

In his presidential address, State Education Minister M.A. Baby said that a central university or a higher education centre would be set up in Malabar region considering the educational backwardness of the region. The State government plans to improve the quality of public education sector and also for the scientific diversification of higher education sector. The higher education sector of the State is all set to make a giant leap as a few institutions of international standards such as the Space Science Institute, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research are coming up in the State, he said.

Ajoy Chatterjee, additional director general of shipping and chief surveyor with Government of India, delivered a keynote address.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma, K. Chandran Pillai M.P, M.A. Yousuf and Alphons Kannanthanam, MLAs, Chief Secretary P.J. Thomas, Rear Admiral B.R. Menon, Kalamassery Municipal chairperson V.M. Arifa, Joy Job Kulavelil, convener of the examination committee of the syndicate and N.K. Vasudevan, CUSAT syndicate member were among those who attended.

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