ELURU: Cherukuri Subhash Chandra Bose, MLC candidate supported by the United Teachers' Federation for the teachers' constituency, on Saturday vowed to save the State-run schools and colleges from the onslaught of corporate institutions.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the growth of corporate educational institutions was eating into the vitals of the education system.

"As an activist of the UTF, I have been in the thick of struggles on issues pertaining to the education system for nearly four decades," he said, while expressing the hope that teachers and lecturers would support his candidature. Mr. Bose urged the teacher community to be aware of the `hidden' agenda of rival candidates in the fray, representing corporate educational institutions. The UTF candidate claimed to have secured letters of support from over 20 organisations, representing teachers and lecturers. He said he had just completed his campaign of personal contact with voters in the two districts.

The UTF leader blamed the Chief Minister, the Education Minister and authorities concerned for the uncertainty prevailing in the school education system following a ruling by the High Court, declaring null and void an order issued by the government in favour of combined service rules of teachers.

President's consent

The government had miserably failed to secure the consent of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for the ordinance issued by it on combined service rules for the last 20 months, leading to the present uncertainty over the fate of 3.5 lakh teachers.

Mr Bose said that the Chief Minister should strive to break the stalemate in this regard by using his good offices with the UPA Government at the Centre in getting the President's consent for the ordinance.

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