Keralam University Finance Commission Assures No Plans for Privatization, ETEducation

Thrissur: B A Prakash, Economist and Chairperson of the newly constituted State’s University Finance Commission, has sought to dispel fears that the panel is a precursor to the privatisation of public universities in Keralam.He said the commission’s primary mandate was to assess the financial health of the 10 universities under the higher education department and recommend measures to ensure their financial sustainability by curbing wasteful expenditure and exploring innovative ways to mobilise resources.“Some academics fear that the commission could pave the way for privatisation and the implementation of the Centre’s controversial education reforms”, he added.Responding to media, Prakash said the deteriorating financial health of universities was undermining their ability to fulfil their core objectives — training students in research and equipping them to become original knowledge creators. At Kerala University, nearly half the faculty positions across its 50-odd teaching departments are filled by guest lecturers. He said pension payments exceeded the amount spent on salaries for serving staff in university.Former Keralam State Higher Education Council Member Secretary Rajan Varughese argued that the main concern with the order constituting the commission was its failure to explicitly state that alternative financing should supplement, rather than replace, public funding.