Higher Education Minister R. Bindu has accused Governors of deliberately creating issues in the State’s education sector by pursuing political agenda. “Governors are increasingly interfering in matters concerning universities like never before, undermining the rights of the State government in the education sector,” the Minister said.
Dr. Bindu was responding to concerns raised recently by the Kerala High Court, which described the lack of regular Vice-Chancellors in most of the universities in the State as a “serious situation” detrimental to the academic landscape.
“It’s true that many universities are functioning without permanent V-Cs. But this crisis has emerged primarily due to the obdurate stance taken by Governors, who have consistently refused to cooperate with the State government. Their approach directly infringes upon the constitutional rights of the State,” she said.
Healthy competition
Despite these roadblocks, Kerala’s higher education sector continues to make remarkable progress, she said. “Our universities are performing impressively in both national and international rankings. There’s healthy competition among institutions, which is helping them innovate, showcase achievements on global platforms, and adopt best practices.”
Highlighting the government’s commitment, Dr. Bindu noted that Kerala has invested over ₹6,000 crore in higher education in the past four years. “According to the NITI Aayog, Kerala is the top-performing State in terms of fund utilisation in higher education. This sector remains a top priority for the LDF government.”
Private varsities Bill
The Minister pointed out that despite strong public support, the Bill to permit private universities in the State was still awaiting the Governor’s assent. “The Kerala society has welcomed the idea, understanding its relevance in the modern academic landscape. Yet, the Bill remains stuck due to the Governor’s inaction.”
Dr. Bindu reiterated that Kerala’s determination to build a globally competitive higher education ecosystem would continue, regardless of politically motivated hurdles.