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| Saturday, July 14, 2007
More government engineering colleges planned
Karunanidhi’s suggestion to ensure social justice in
education
Chennai: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has suggested opening
more engineering colleges in the State to overcome the challenges
posed to the fulfilment of the objectives of social justice
in education, Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy said here
on Friday.
“I met the Chief Minister yesterday [Thursday] after the
[High Court] judgement [that struck down mandatory seats surrender
by private engineering colleges]. He suggested that one way
out was [for the Government] to start more engineering colleges,”
Mr. Ponmudy said. A proposal was being worked out to ensure
that the students from the poor and marginalised classes had
access to higher technical education at a reasonable fee. The
possibility of opening a government engineering college in each
district would be pursued.
Mr. Ponmudy described the High Court verdict as “surprising”
and one that he was “not able to comprehend.” It
came at a time when 62 of the 76 minority engineering colleges
had agreed to surrender 50 per cent of the seats to the Government
for admissions under the single window system. Eleven colleges
had surrendered more than 50 per cent of the seats. Of the 161
non-minority colleges, 110 had surrendered 65 per cent of the
seats, and 15 colleges, seats above the stipulated 65 per cent.
“We have no problem giving up even this 65 per cent if
anyone can fill 100 per cent of the seats through the single
window system,” Mr. Ponmudy said. He was prepared to hand
over the responsibility to a committee, comprising representatives
of the High Court, the Government and the private engineering
colleges, if something towards this end could be worked out.
The Government wanted to protect the interests of students from
rural and marginalised backgrounds, who should have easy access
to higher education. He asserted that the Government would do
all that was possible to ensure that this goal was achieved.
It would appeal against the High Court order.
Warning to colleges
Mr. Ponmudy requested private engineering colleges not to collect
any amount over and above that specified by the committee appointed
to fix fees. If the Government received any complaints –
and complaints could be even anonymously sent to him or the
Director of Technical Education – his department would
initiate criminal action against the managements. Warning of
severe action against such colleges, he said the State Government
would press the AICTE for their de-recognition.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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