The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Varsity status will not affect teachers, students”

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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Varsity status will not affect teachers, students”

Special Correspondent

Management of Thiagarajar College clarifies

MADURAI: The management of the Thiagarajar College of Engineering and Thiagarajar College here has said the conferment of university status by the State government on them will not affect the fee structure or the pay/pension of teachers.

“In fact, the university status gives scope for improving these,” Karumuttu T. Kannan, vice-chairman and correspondent of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, told journalists on Sunday. “The fears and issues raised by teachers’ associations are misplaced.”

He said the management would protect the interests of teachers and scholarships, and “the communal reservation will be followed.”

The Select Committee of the Assembly will visit here on August 26 to elicit public opinion.

Mr. Kannan said both the Thiagarajar College of Engineering and Thiagarajar College had completed more than 50 years.

“They are run as charitable institutions without capitation fee or donation for admission, and this policy will continue even after they become university.”

“We have all the standards in terms of research collaboration, infrastructure, accreditation by national boards and a strong record of academic performance, besides qualified faculty. Hence, we are aspiring to become a university,” he said.

He also pointed to the government’s assurance that the government aid to institutions would continue even after they were given the university status.

“Teachers’ pay or perquisites will only get better. I also assure that the present set of students will get Anna University degree,” Mr. Kannan said.

Replying to an association’s statement that an institution which grew up with government funds should not be made a university, Mr. Kannan said the government grant was confined to the salary of teachers, whereas the infrastructure came up through private efforts.

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