Scores of students, led by the district unit of the Students Federation of India (SFI), staged a protest here on Thursday condemning the opening of private universities in the State.
The activists took out a procession from the Government College for Boys to the Deputy Commissioner’s office where they staged a dharna.
The protesters raised slogans against the State government and Minister for Higher Education C.T. Ravi for what they termed as the latter’s connivance with the private lobby in the education sector.
In a memorandum submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee through Deputy Commissioner, the SFI urged the President to not give assent to the Bills signed by the Governor.
While the Governor has consented to allow 10 private universities to be set up, 10 others are waiting for his assent, the SFI said.
The opening of private universities will commercialise the field of higher education and snatch the opportunities of students from weaker sections of society from availing themselves of higher education, it contended. Instead of opening private universities, priority should be given to strengthen government colleges and universities, it said.
SFI district president V. Ambarish and secretary K. Vasudeva Reddy were present.
