Nearly 50 faculty members of the Left-affiliated Association of Kerala Government College Teachers at the autonomous Ernakulam Maharaja’s College will stay out of the Board of Studies from this month end as part of the renewed efforts to oppose granting of autonomy to the prestigious institution.
The Hindu has learnt that the State committee of the CPI (M) has given its nod for strengthening the agitation against the autonomy for Maharaja’s and University College in Thiruvananthapuram.
Confirming the development, Dr. K. K. Damodaran, general secretary of AKGCT, said that a meeting of the Save Maharaja’s forum will be convened by the fourth week of this month to chalk out the course of the agitation.
“We will withdraw teachers, who are part of the Boards of Studies as a first step. About 50 teachers, who are now members of the Boards of Studies including its Chairmen, are AKGCT members,” he said.
The Board of Studies of an autonomous government college consists of the Head of the Department nominated by the government; not more than six teachers; two subject experts from outside the college to be nominated by the academic council; an expert to be nominated by the Vice Chancellor from a panel of six experts recommended by the Principal; one representative each from industry, corporate sector or allied area relating to placement; and one meritorious alumnus who has completed a postgraduate programme of the university, to be nominated by the Principal.
‘Hasty decision’
Stating that they are not against academic autonomy, Dr. Damodaran said that the government was acting in haste by giving autonomy to almost all the colleges that had applied for the status. The aided colleges seem aiming at increasing their earnings by introducing self-financing courses. But the impact on government colleges will be high, as it will struggle to find funds for various works related to autonomy as the government assistance will cut down substantially, he said.
Teachers have also expressed concerns whether autonomy will ultimately result in hike in student fees and upset the reservation norms for admission.
