Kochi: Former diplomat and former vice-chairman of Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) Mr T P Sreenivasan said that the steps being envisaged through the budget are welcome. “Any step for modernization is welcome and the setting up of skill centres is in the right direction.
The Central Government is for less Government control over educational institutions and is pushing autonomy for varsities and college and I have been advocating the same in Kerala also but sadly it is still to get acceptance here.
Relieving UGC of funding responsibilities and entrusting it with academic tasks would be a good idea and the reforms should look in that direction. For funding a separate mechanism should be evolved by strengthening RUSA. Systems to measure annual learning outcomes point to auditing and as KSHEC vice-chairman I have been advocating the same. My blueprint also emphasized regular faculty training, private varsities and industry-institution linkages but sadly they are yet to get a push in the state,” Mr Sreenivasan added.
