Port Blair, March 6: CPI (M) has demanded to have a re-look of the proposal for establishment of the Deemed University in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and allow the present system of affiliation of the Colleges with the Pondicherry University, which is a highly acclaimed University in the country with a good NAAC grading to continue for the benefit of students and to save the higher educational institutions in the islands from total chaos and collapse.
In a letter sent to Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Government of India, New Delhi, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organizing Committee stated that the Government of India and A & N Administration are going ahead with the establishment of Deemed University despite strong opposition from political parties, student community and others.
He drew the attention of the Minister of Education to the fact that from 1988 onwards, all the higher educational institutions in the A & N Islands have been affiliated to the Pondicherry University, a Central University established under the Pondicherry University Act, 1985 passed by the Parliament of India. This University was established for the Union Territories of Pondicherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. With this, the question of affiliation of higher educational institutions in A & N Islands was a settled issue.
CPI (M) Secretary stated in his letter that this Deemed University is being created through short cut and backdoor method as it does not have any legislative sanction which is required to establish a University in the country. The proposed Deemed University will be established under the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Legal Education Society, a society formed in 2015 to establish and run the Andaman Law College, Port Blair.
As per the proposal under consideration of the Govt. of India/A & N Administration, all the 7 Government Colleges presently functioning in the islands (JNRM, Port Blair, MG Govt. College, Mayabunder, ANCOL, Port Blair, TGCE, Port Blair, DBRAIT, Dollygunj, Andaman Law College, Port Blair and ANIIMS, Port Blair) will be brought under the proposed Deemed University as Constituent Units, disaffiliating it from the Pondicherry Central University.
CPI (M) has noted that despite strong opposition from the islanders, the Central Government and A & N Administration are bent upon to impose the Deemed University on the islanders. It is regretted to state that no consultation with the stakeholders (Teachers Organisations, student organisations, and Alumni organizations) and political parties, elected representatives, etc. has been undertaken by the authorities so far.
Running the University requires a large number of academicians of the rank of Professors, experts, etc. A number of academic committees and bodies with academicians of repute are required for running the Deemed University.
The apprehension of CPI (M) is that the fees of students in the Colleges under the Deemed University will be much higher than the fees they are paying now. Students from poor families, particularly those in the rural areas, will not be able to pay the higher fees every year. This will lead to a situation where higher education will be a distant dream for the students belonging to lower strata of society.
He further said that instead of improving the facilities in the existing Colleges, the Govt. of India proposes to establish Deemed University to create anarchy in the higher education sector in the islands. None of the seven existing colleges does not have regular Principal. It is observed that no post of Faculty was created to run the Andaman College, Port Blair (ANCOL). More than 50% of the teaching staff in JNRM, TGCE and MG Govt College, Mayabunder is contractual teachers or Guest Lecturers. ANIIMS and Law College are entirely run with contract Faculty as not a single post of permanent nature has been created for these two institutions run by Societies so far.