Decision on autonomy for eight govt colleges in state draws flak
Shivani Bhakoo
Ludhiana, August 2
A meeting involving government college teachers, non-teaching staff and student unions was held to discuss the recent decision by the Higher Education Department to make eight major government colleges in Punjab autonomous, effectively removing them from government responsibility.
The decision was made without the approval of the state cabinet, said those who attended the meeting. It was decided to oppose the unilateral move by the Higher Education Department, made without the consent of the Punjab Government and the state cabinet.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Amandeep Singh Kheowali, state secretary of Punjab Students Union (PSU), said that the move would lead to an increase in students’ fees, potentially affecting a large number of students from the underprivileged sections. He pointed out that even now, government colleges in Punjab are relying on PTA funds to pay teachers’ salaries, which has resulted in many students being unable to afford education due to excessive PTA contributions.
Request meeting with cm mann
Representatives of all unions in the meeting reminded the Punjab Government of its responsibility towards education. They requested a meeting or public debate with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Higher Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains to discuss the issue. They added that if they do not receive an appointment for a meeting within a week, they would be compelled to launch a struggle against the 'Tughlaqi Farman' (arbitrary decree) of the Higher Education Department regarding government colleges in state
Kheowali criticised the implementation of the National Education Policy in Punjab as a wrong step, asserting that education falls under the State List as per the Constitution, and Punjab should formulate its own policy according to its current circumstances.
On the other hand, Dr Amrit Samra, president of the Government College Teachers’ Association (GCTA), stated that the Higher Education Department’s role is to implement decisions taken by the Punjab government, not to directly enforce policies of the Central Government. He mentioned that there was no information regarding the cabinet’s decision or policy related to making colleges autonomous.
Dr Amrit Samra, along with Prof Harminder Singh Dimple Nabha, president of the Government College Guest Faculty Assistant Professors Association, and Dr Hukam Chand, president of the Malwa zone, were of the view that the Higher Education Department was illogically pushing for the autonomy of eight major government colleges in Punjab, and there had been no decision to this effect by the state cabinet. They noted that the department was asking colleges to fill forms for autonomy directly from the UGC website without consulting the stakeholders (teachers, parents, non-teaching staff and student representatives) or issuing any policy or notice regarding the autonomy of the colleges.
Dr Sumit Sami, state president of the Self-Financing Teachers Association of Punjab, criticised the Higher Education Department for promoting self-financing in government colleges in the guise of developing new courses and colleges while gradually withdrawing government support. He emphasised that education and health are fundamental responsibilities of the government and withdrawing from these responsibilities was unjust and will be forcefully opposed.
The representatives of all the unions in the meeting reminded the Punjab government of its responsibility towards education. They requested a meeting or public debate with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Higher Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains to discuss the issue. They added that if they do not receive an appointment for a meeting within a week, they would be compelled to launch a struggle against the ‘Tughlaqi Farman’ (arbitrary decree) of the Higher Education Department regarding government colleges in state.
