The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Opposition boycotts sitting

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Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Opposition boycotts sitting

Special Correspondent

Row over agreements with colleges

Central universities in Thrissur, Kasaragod
Identity cards for children born in the State

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition United Democratic Front boycotted the fag end of Monday’s sitting of the Assembly after the government rejected its demand to table the recent agreements between the government and some self-financing colleges.

Education Minister M.A. Baby said the agreements were to be placed before the Supreme Court as directed by the fee regulatory committee headed by P.A. Mohammed. The agreements would become public when the court approves them.

The Opposition maintained that the agreements were not secret documents and should be made public now itself. Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy asked why Mr. Baby was refusing to table the agreements if they had better terms as claimed by the Minister. The boycott followed noisy arguments over the issue.

The Minister, replying to the debate on the demand for Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, said court orders permitted the government to enter into agreements with college managements on admissions and fee subject to the approval of the committee and the Supreme Court.

Mr. Baby said the State would get two Central universities shortly. They were to be set up in Kasaragod and Thrissur districts subject to the approval of a Central team. The proposed university in Thrissur, close to the Nedumbassery airport, would be of international standards.

Status of Cusat

He said the State had gone back on its decision to hand over the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) as the Centre had reneged on IIT status for the institution. The Centre was proposing the status of National Institute of Technology for the university. This would amount to lowering of its status.

He said the government would be going ahead with the revision of the Kerala Educational Rules after consultations with all concerned.

The rate of drop in admissions to government schools was coming down with improvement in standards. The higher pass percentage in this year’s SSLC examination was the result concerted efforts including paying of special attention to schools showing poor results. There was tangible evidence to show that. Teachers had been given training and shift eliminated in 40 schools besides increasing the number of working days.

Identity cards would be introduced for all children born in the State soon.

Panels for reforms

The Minister said committees would be appointed to look into reforms in teaching of art forms. K. Radhakrishnan and T. N. Krishnan would head committees on scientific revision of the syllabus for fine arts and music. N.R. Madhava Menon would head a committee to consider amendments to the laws dealing with art and culture.

The proposal to convert the Kerala Kalamandalam into a deemed university had received approval from the Centre.

An Arabic Study Centre would be set up in Kozhikode. A proposal for a centre and memorial for Raja Ravi Varma was under consideration.

After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the demand for Rs.3,768.93 crore.

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