Port Blair, Oct. 5: CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee once again 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 education institutions in the islands from total chaos and collapse.
In a letter sent to the Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee while drawing the attention of the Lt Governor to his earlier letter of 12th April, 2023, said 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 told the Lt. Governor that in his earlier letter the CPI (M) had pointed out the adverse impact the Deemed University will have on the students, teachers and other employees besides the resultant decline in the quality of education. Ayyappan stated in the letter that from 1988, all the higher educational institutions in 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) told the Lt Governor.
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.
Ayyappan stated in the letter that 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.
He further stated in the letter that CPI (M) is surprised to see 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. CPI (M) has expressed concern that no consultation with the stakeholders (Teachers Organisations, student organisations, Alumni organizations) and political parties, elected representatives, etc. has been undertaken by the authorities so far.
CP* (M) had already pointed out that 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.
CPI (M) pointed 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 meet the increase in 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.
Explaining the present unsatisfactory condition of the existing colleges, CPI (M) Secretary stated in the letter that none of the 7 existing colleges do not have regular Principals. No post of Faculty was created to run the Andaman College, Port Blair (ANCOL). More than 50% of the teaching staff in JNRM, TGCE, MG Govt College, Mayabunder and Engineering stream of DBRAIT are 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. CPI (M) blamed the Central government and A & N Administration that instead of improving the existing higher educational institutions, the Central Government and A & N Administration are going ahead with the Deemed University which will adversely affect the quality of higher education in the islands. Taking strong objection to the manner in which the Deemed University is beingestablished, CPI (M) said that the 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.