List likely today as differences narrow down

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 30. An end to the stalemate in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) over sanctioning of Plus Two courses is in sight with the LDF sub-committee narrowing down differences through marathon discussions till the wee hours today.

The committee, once again in session here, is expected to finalise the list by midnight tonight. It is not clear whether the list would be released for publication on Wednesday itself. The sub-committee may wait for the full LDF panel to have a final look at the list.The LDF State committee is meeting here on June 1.

The sub-committee began its meeting on Monday evening around 9 p.m. and the deliberations lasted till 4 a.m. The Education Minister, Mr. P.J. Joseph, told the sub-committee that as a result of high pass percentage in the SSLC examination, some 17,000 additional students would be seeking admission to Plus Two courses. This, according to him, made it necessary to sanction Plus Two courses in more schools than had originally been anticipated.

According to LDF sources, the Minister put the figure around 300. This was not acceptable to the other LDF constituents who felt that sanctioning new courses in so many schools would place a heavy burden on the exchequer, which would have to bear the cost of additional teaching hands. They were also worried that it would result in the LDF being accused of indulging in trade in education.

The original understanding was to sanction Plus Two courses to 200 schools, 100 each in the State and private sectors, this year. The attempt of the other LDF constituents was to get the total number pegged somewhere above 200 but not above 250. But there was no sign of their plan having succeeded when the meeting ended this morning. Of equal importance would be the proportion in which the courses would be sanctioned. Indications are that private-aided schools would stand to gain from the current exercise.

Although the discussions were not stalled on account of such tough stance on both sides, it could progress only at a snail's pace. The committee then went on to scrutinise the applications from each district beginning with Kasaragod. The tardy progress was also on account of the need to satisfy various interests including regional requirements, community interests and the need to compensate for delinking of pre-degree courses from specific colleges.

During the last two years, there were complaints from the SNDP Yogam and MES and some other managements that they had not been sanctioned sufficient number of courses. Some of them like the SNDP Yogam had threatened to launch an agitation against the Government over the issue and had to be pacified by sanctioning Plus Two courses separately. This time too, various Christian denominations are likely to get more Plus Two courses for the simple reason that collectively they have more schools under their control.

By the time the sub-committee members decided that they needed a break, they could reach only up to Kottayam. The Education Minister seemed willing to continue with the exercise, but the others were in no mood to go ahead. Sources in the LDF said that the process would have almost the same pace tonight as the sub- committee would have to take a re-look at the list because additions and deletions might be necessary at the last minute.

Public perception about the whole affair is quite negative and the Opposition parties have already begun to allege that the delay in finalising the list is on account of the hard bargaining for money going on behind the scenes. Naturally, pressure is mounting on the LDF leaders to get the list finalised without much further ado.

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Section  : Southern States
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