Centre must protect autonomy of universities: Keshava Rao
Warangal: Criticising the Centre for its attempt to usurp the autonomy of the universities including the State run universities, TRS MP (Rajya Sabha) K Keshava Rao has stressed the need for protection of the sovereignty of the government universities besides ensuring access to higher education for all the interested people. He opined that the National Educational Policy 2020 brought by the BJP led Centre was ‘WTO driven’ policy.
Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on “Higher Education in India: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions” at the Kakatiya University here on Sunday, Rao lamented that many students were unable to access the higher education in India due to policies adopted by the governments, and underscored the need to bridge the gap between poor and rich in accessing the education.
“The education has become centralised, the varsities are facing the problem of lack of proper infrastructure, shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff,” Rao said and stressed the need for deliberations on these issues and help building an equal society. He was critical about the Centre’s decision to invite the 200 foreign universities to India, and Centre’s attempts to dominate the State-run varsities. Meanwhile, Rao promised that he would ensure release of Rs 3.5 crore for the PV Narasimha Rao Knowledge Centre.
Noted social activist Prof G Haragopal, former Professor D Narasimha Reddy and other guests at the programme had also flayed the Centre for its sway over the varsities and ‘denial of access’ to higher education for the downtrodden. They expressed much concern over the Centre’s alleged attempts to destabilise the autonomy, and liberal and secular eco-system in the varsities for their vested interests. They have also lamented that the gap between the haves and have-nots is increasing day by day in the education sector too.
Prof Haragopal said that the NEP 2020 was ‘market-driven policy’ which lacks humane approach to the issues and also against the spirit of the Indian constitution. Kakatiya University VC Prof Thatikonda Ramesh said that they were conducting this conference with an aim of finding feasible solutions to correct the higher education system and increase access to higher education to the oppressed sections for achieving an egalitarian society.
Nearly 87 papers will be presented with the participation of 23 universities in India and abroad including the USA, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Botswana and Tanzania, according to Registrar Prof Byru Venkatram Reddy. President of the Indian Distance Education Association Prof K Murali Manohar has also spoken at the inaugural session. Director of SDLCE Prof Srinivasa Rao, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof Banna Ailaiah, Principal of the University College Prof B Suresh Lal, scholars, teachers, and students were present.
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