‘Varsities’ Bill a Threat to Education System
A meeting, organised by the All India Save Education Committee
(AISEC) in the city on 25th April, discussed the Innovative Universities
and Foreign Universities Bill.
Eminent speakers, including Prof UR Ananthamurthy (former VC of Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam, Kerala and Jnanapeeth awardee), M.S. Thimmappa (former VC, Bangalore University)
and Prof M.V. Nadkarni, spoke about the bill, which was passed by the Karnataka
legislature without any discussion and approvals from academicians and educationalists.
The bill proposes to create two systems - unitary and affiliation,
under one university. Under this, two separate pro vice-chancellors would be appointed
and the duties of a vice-chancellor would be divided among them.
The approved legislation proposes to give unfettered rights to the university and
its faculty to start new and innovative courses, tie up with foreign varsities and
issue diploma certificates. This move, according to academicians, isn’t viable and
seems to raise questions.
Most academicians spoke at length about the perils ahead if the bill became a law,
citing valid reasons. "The Innovative Universities and Foreign
Universities Bill is a threat to our higher education and must definitely
not be passed," M.S. Thimmappa, former vice-chancellor, said.
"Commercialisation of education must be stopped at any cost. The present initiatives
of the government aren't very poor-friendly and are actually against the ideals
of the Constitution," Prof U.R. Ananthamurthy said.
The speakers spoke in one voice against the bill, which they said, posed a threat
to the present education system in the country and state
Courtesy: DNA India
