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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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UDF walkout over admission issue

Special Correspondent

Protest against State government’s ‘inability’ to arrive at a consensus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on Wednesday walked out of the Assembly in protest against the State government’s “continued inability to sort out the professional college admission issue.”

The walkout came when Speaker K. Radhakrishnan refused to allow a detailed discussion on the issue adjourning the other businesses slated for the day. Congress MLA K.C. Joseph moved the adjournment motion.

Stating why the motion should not be allowed, Education Minister M.A. Baby said the government was trying to arrive at a consensus with the professional college managements on matters relating to admissions and fee structure. This was being done not by bypassing the P.A. Mohammed Committee (which was constituted to decide on the fee structure).

The Minister said the government was fully committed to the principle that the ordinary and poor students should be able to receive professional education paying affordable fees. He squarely blamed the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government for all the complications experienced in professional course admissions.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy asked the Minister whether he could point out at least one student now into a private professional college paying the fees applicable to government colleges. Total confusion prevailed even in the third year of this government’s term in office, he said.

“You have not been able to come to a consensus for three years. Parents and students are running from pillar to post,” Mr. Chandy said. He alleged that these confusions were being created to help the college managements in the neighbouring States.

Earlier, Mr. Joseph said the government had actually flouted court verdicts while “bypassing the P.A. Mohammed Committee” to enter into talks with the private college managements on matters relating to the fee structure. The agreements being worked out with the managements even related to the collection of deposits and capitation fee, which were legally banned, according to him.

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