The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Increase in Plan aid to universities

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Friday, Mar 07, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Increase in Plan aid to universities

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The higher education sector in the State is all set to witness a substantial increase in the inflow of government funds in 2008-09 with Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac announcing that the total assistance to universities would be pegged at Rs.31.50 crore — up from Rs.11.90 crore during 2007-08.

On the non-plan front, the government will give 50 per cent of the additional resources mobilised by universities in 2008-09 through fee and grant from agencies including the University Grants Commission (UGC). This will be in addition to the increase in grants in the budget.

The allocation to engineering colleges has risen sharply from Rs.4.50 crore in 2007-08 to Rs.19 crore.

The allocation for polytechnics has also gone up to Rs.8 crore from Rs.3.25 crore in 2007-08.

The budget speaks of sanction being given to fill 642 vacant posts in 130 arts and science colleges and for 1700 posts of teachers in higher secondary schools before the commencement of the next academic year.

To meet the requirement of teachers in the new 14 vocational higher secondary schools and for the 72 additional batches in 34 VHS schools, about 400 posts would be created afresh, the Minister announced.

The budget has set apart Rs.25 crore for strengthening laboratory and library facilities in government higher secondary schools.

While a sum of Rs.5 crore has been allocated for scholarships for students in high schools, Rs.4.60 crore has been set apart for scholarships in the higher education sector.

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