By Adv C K George
Thrissur: Students lack interest for college studies in Kerala following inferior standard of education, superfluity of politics, and non-availability employment were the reasons attributed for decline in admission to degree and post-graduate level courses.
There were 85,552 vacant seats in various colleges affiliated to Universities in the State for degrees and 13,047 vacant seats for post-graduate studies in the current academic year, according to information laid down by the minister for Higher Education, R Bindhu on the floor of the assembly recently.
This was due to the unwillingness of students for accepting four-year degree courses and post-graduate level studies and ample opportunities for study abroad at the degree level itself as against the previous years. Several student opt for study abroad for better quality education and availability of suitable employment abroad.
This amounted to 30 per cent of the total seats for degree courses and 40 per cent of post-graduate level courses allotted, the revealed on the floor of the assembly.
Last academic year also there were several thousand seats vacant for degree and post-graduate level courses in the affiliated colleges in the State and in the self-financed colleges 70 per cent seats were vacant out of a total of 70,000 seats, the official sources said.
In between 25 per cent and 30 per cent seats for B D S and M D S were vacant last academic year, according to Dental Council of India sources.
During 2022-23 academic year, 75 per cent seats were vacant for B D S in six Dental Colleges in the State, according to official sources.
According to a study report of the Thiruvananthapuram-based International Institute of Migration and Development, about 2.5 lakh students left Kerala for studies abroad for their education and it was estimated over 20 per cent of total students left India for studies abroad. According to the Managing Director of the Santamonica Studies Abroad Private Limited , Denny Thomas , 7.2 lakh students left Kerala during the last academi year, only 32 ,000 were from Kerala .
More and more students are coming forward for making use of the opportunities available for studies abroad ant this trend was likely to improve considerably, Thomas said.
According to noted educationists, the reason for the exodus of students from Kerala for studies abroad was inferior quality of standard, anarchy in the educational institutions by the superfluity of politics by the students unions and the management’s inability to take appropriate action against the guilty students following pressure.
The rampant corruption in the aided-educational institutions for appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff .
According to media reports, it has become a rule rather than exception, to take rs 20 lakh and above for the appointment of a teacher in the primary schools, Rs 35 lakh and above for appointment of a teacher in the High School and Rs 75 lakh and above for appointment of a teacher in the aided-colleges in the State. It makes stumbling block for the entry of efficient and meritorious personnel in the aided-educational institutions.
When a person was appointed after taking lakhs of rupees, he has nothing to fear of losing his job and it would continue till his retirement easily . This leads him to a non-chalant attitude towards his teaching profession and consequent inferior standard also .
The Honorable High Court of Kerala had ruled several years back ,the appointments n the aided-educational institutions should be made through Public service Commission as the Government paid the wages and other benefits of the aided-educational institutions’ staff in Kerala. It was only in Kerala that the appointments made by the management and their wages paid by the Government.
The educationists said that it was high time for the Government to appoint the staff of the aided educational institutions in Kerala as it would help to bring the efficient and devoted personnel to the sector and it would also improve standard of education also.
