Nod for private professional colleges

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 7. In what suggests a major policy shift, the State committee of the ruling LDF has given the green signal for sanctioning private professional colleges in the State.

The LDF has coined a new slogan of `private participation with social control' to push the new policy which has so far been anathema to the CPI(M) and its student and youth wings. The decision may not, however, have any immediate effect and is likely to be acted upon only by the next Government. But it still marks a major policy detour for the LDF and particularly the CPI(M).

The decision was taken by the LDF panel after day-long discussions here today. The discussion was based on the report of a six-member LDF team that visited West Bengal last week. The LDF team had reported that there were private professional colleges in Bengal and that these were subject to stringent social control.

Front sources said the LDF State committee would finalise the norms at its next meeting here on March 16. The Front partners have been asked to come up with proposals for formulating the new norms. Given the present decision, the LDF might also decide to make its new policy perspective on private professional colleges a part of the LDF manifesto for the coming Assembly election.

Briefing reporters after the LDF panel meeting, the Front convener, Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan, said the Front leadership would draw up a formula for sanctioning private professional colleges and publicise it. He made it clear that managements that seek permission to start professional colleges would have to forego their claims to protection. Private managements that have already applied for sanction and those who could not do so would get the opportunity to apply for Government sanction under the new norms, he said.

Asked what the Front meant by `social control', the LDF convener said it meant protection to parents and students from exorbitant fees and donations for admission. The Government, he said, would ensure that the managements do not indulge in trade in education.

The LDF resolve to allow private professional colleges is a major victory for the Education Minister, Mr. P.J. Joseph, who could be said to have pulled the Front leadership by the scruff to the new policy plank. It was Mr. Joseph's decision to grant No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to 32 private managements to start professional colleges that occasioned the LDF's soul- searching and the present decision.

The State Cabinet had cancelled the Education Department's decision in this regard in Mr. Joseph's absence touching off a political controversy. However, it was later decided, once again on a suggestion from Mr. Joseph, to send a delegation to West Bengal to study the private professional education scene there. The LDF team, headed by the CPI(M) Central committee member, Mr. M.A. Baby, had returned with impressions that favoured sanctioning of private professional colleges with stringent social control.

The LDF State committee also commenced discussions on sharing of seats at its meeting today. The Front constituents would hold bilateral discussions on the subject beginning tomorrow. The CPI(M) has decided not to disturb the allies beyond a point. This might result in the CPI(M), the KC(J) and, may be, even the RSP being spared. However, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Janata Dal may be asked to part with a seat here and another there. The NCP and the JD may be asked to give up some of their seats in South Kerala.

The LDF's manifesto drafting committee is meeting here on March 14 to finalise the manifesto. The manifesto, according to Mr. Achuthanandan, would contain the new deal that the LDF has for the people besides a listing of the gains of the Nayanar Government during the last five years.The LDF committee also decided to allot two out of the three arising vacancies in the Kerala Public Service Commission to the CPI(M) and the third to the CPI and endorsed the proposal of the Revenue Department to form 16 new taluks in the State. The new taluks would be formed by splitting large taluks. This decision also, in a way, meets a long-pending demand of people.

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Section  : Southern States
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