Tamil Nadu's higher education interest will be protected: KP Anbalagan

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday assured that it would safeguard the interest of the state with regard to the proposed move by the Central government to bring in the Higher Education Commission of India by repealing the UGC Act.

Responding to the apprehensions expressed by the Opposition DMK in the Assembly, higher education minister K. P. Anbalagan said the state government would submit its views to the Centre on the subject by July 7. “We will ensure our interests are not affected. The views of various vice-chancellors in the state have been sought before finalising the government’s response in consultation with the Chief Minister. Accordingly, we shall give our opinion without affecting the state’s interests,” the Minister assured.

Raising the issue, leader of the Opposition and DMK working president M. K. Stalin referred to the Centre’s move to replace the UGC Act and said this would deny states their rights to decide on the policy or allocate funds for higher education. He sought to know if the State government has consulted experts on the proposed bill and what stand TN would convey to the Centre.

The Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill 2018, proposed by the BJP-led government, seeks to repeal the UGC Act and provide for setting up of Higher Education Commission of India.

The focus of Higher Education Commission of India will be on improving academic standards and the quality of Higher Education. Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar had appealed to all educationists, stakeholders and public to furnish comments and suggestions by July 7 on the draft bill.

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