Date:15/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/10/15/stories/2004101501081900.htm

Back Seminar on Kerala higher education

Aravindan

Kottayam , Oct. 14

A SEMINAR on `Revamping of Higher Education in Kerala' being organised by Kerala Private College Teachers Association (KPCTA) at CMS College here on Saturday will focus on how the syllabi of conventional degree courses could be restructured to suit the emerging trends of the 21st century society.

Prof. K.M. George, President KPCTA and Prof. Wilson Koshy, Chairman, Academic Committee, said teachers should be given necessary training to assist the students in studying vocational subjects.

Information and Communication Technology should be incorporated both in teaching and evaluation methods in the higher education sector, they added. Mr Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Minister for Irrigation, will inaugurate the seminar. Dr V.N. Rajashekhara Pillai, Vice- Chairman, University Grants Commission, will deliver the keynote address.

Dr M.K. Ramachandran Nair, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kerala, will address the gathering. This will be followed by panel discussions in two sessions. Mr K. Mohandas, Principal Secretary, Higher Education will present concluding remarks. One of the objectives of the seminar is to revise the evaluation system in State higher education sector.

There should be a common examination calendar for all the universities. Valuation of private scripts should be done by a separate board comprising retired teachers, Prof K.M. George said.

The seminar will also explore the possibility of launching integrated courses at least in colleges with high grades.