CPI(M) accuses UDF of making higher education sole privilege of students from entitled families and undermining reservation criteria

Thiruvananthapuram The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday accused Higher Education Minister Roji M. John of seeking to undermine government and aided higher education institutions, which offer affordable tutoring to students hailing from marginalised and economically underprivileged sections of society. CPI(M) State secretary M.V.

Govindan told a press conference that Mr. John sought to make higher education unaffordable for students from working-class families by allowing autonomous and private self-financing colleges to start new courses, recruit faculty, and charge exorbitant fees at will. “Mr John has, at a stroke, removed governmental and university-level oversight of higher education institutions in the private sector.

He has undermined the Constitutionally guaranteed reservation criteria (affirmative action) for students from historically backward sections of society, including backward classes and Dalits, by allowing private colleges free rein to start new courses, charge capitation fees, and appoint faculty by passing the PSC.” Mr. Govindan said Mr.