Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala University syndicate has decided to close down its Learner Support Centres launched under the Institute of Distance Education in 2012.
The decision was issued in the wake of the UGC move to cancel recognition to distance learning centres. There are 62 Learner Support Centres under the university.
The Kerala University would also file an affidavit before the UGC stating that its directions would be complied with. A subcommittee headed by syndicate member R Jayaprakash formed to study the issue has been asked to submit a report on alternate systems by August 20.
The Kerala University has also decided to close down 17 distance education courses which did not have UGC recognition.
Earlier, the Kerala University had suspended the decision to allot 64 more learner support centres. The decision was kept in abeyance following the controversies related to distance education centres operating outside the jurisdiction of the university.
The allegation was that the centres were operating without the sanction of the state government and approval of the UGC.
Governor P Sathasivam had also asked the university to clarify whether these centres had the requisite sanctions.
It may be recalled that the Mahatma Gandhi University had closed down all its off campus centres recently.
