Deemed University will commercialize education and will make education unaffordable to poor students: NSUI

New Delhi, June 27: The National Students Union of India (NSUI) held a Press Conference at Press Club of India, New Delhi on Tuesday. The National Secretary of NSUI, Mr. Avinash Yadav and Mr. Vinod Jakhar, In-charge of Andaman Pradesh NSUI Miss. Mamatha Nerlige and Andaman State President NSUI M.A Sajid addressed the Conference.

In the press conference, State President of NSUI, A& N Islands Mr. M.A Sajid staged his collective voice against the establishment of a Deemed University in Andaman & Nicobar Islands which was approved without taking any consultation from Public Representatives, Student Union's, Teacher Unions, Stakeholders and expert academicians.

He has expressed his concern over the establishment of Deemed University which will commercialize higher education in the Islands and private parties will be given free hand to run the university which will lead to no proper regulation of the fees structure whereas the Students from poor family background will not be able to pay such exorbitant fees in the Islands.

He has pointed towards the issues pertaining due to non-democratic setup in the Islands, the IAS officers were stubborn in the Islands and decisions are made without consulting the public views and ideals for the development of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

He has demanded that instead of establishing the Deemed University in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Administration should decide to establish a Central University to increase the quality of higher education and promote research in the Islands with low fee structure for students.

Addressing the Press Conference, Miss. Mamatha Nerlige has put forward her views against establishment of Deemed University in A & N Islands. She said that most of the students from A & N Islands are from weaker sections, lower Income groups makes it very much difficult to afford the Cost of Deemed University.

Miss. Mamatha has highlighted the degree issued by Pondicherry University which is given value worldwide as this university stands at 68th position in the All India NIRF ranking among top Universities.

She has also expresses her concerns that the majority of faculty and administrative staff would be recruited from outside the Islands, limiting job prospects for local Islanders. This could lead to an influx of outsiders who may exploit the resources and job market, further marginalizing the islanders and exacerbating socio-economic inequalities.

National Secretary of NSUI Mr. Avinash Yadav and Mr. Vinod Jakhar were also represented their views against the establishment of Deemed University in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.