Kerala - Kannur   

Access to education uneven: K.G. Paulose

KANNUR: Access of the economically backward sections to higher education is poor in the State, Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University Vice-Chancellor K.G. Paulose has said.

Delivering the second Dr. P.K. Rajan memorial oration on ‘New trends in higher education’ on the Mangattuparamba Campus of the Kannur University here on Monday, Dr. Paulose said the economically backward classes were getting lesser opportunities for higher education.

Of the poor, only 17 per cent got the opportunity to pursue higher education, he said adding that 56 per cent of middle and upper middle class youths had access to higher education.

Observing that education was a means for empowerment, Dr. Paulose said it should ensure social justice. Speaking on the standards of higher education in the State, he said lack of teachers with superb qualities reflected on the quality of teaching.

With the signing of the GATT agreement, education was commercialised, Dr. Paulose said. He said the ill-effects of trans-national education would be felt by 2015. Opening up of the doors of the sector to foreign universities would badly affect conventional courses which helped in humanising society, he pointed out. Foreign universities would conduct courses that would ensure them profit; he said adding that the native universities would become institutions conducting outdated courses.

Kannur University Vice-Chancellor P. Chandramohan presided.

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