Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 06 March 2024
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) has made a fervent plea to revisit the proposal for the establishment of a Deemed University in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The party is calling for the continuation of the current system of affiliation of colleges with Pondicherry University, citing its esteemed reputation and beneficial outcomes for students, in a bid to prevent potential chaos and collapse in the higher education sector of the islands.
In a letter addressed to Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, the Minister of Education of the Government of India, Mr. D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee, highlighted the persistent opposition from various quarters including political parties and the student community against the establishment of the proposed Deemed University.
Mr. Ayyappan emphasised that since 1988, all higher educational institutions in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands have been affiliated with Pondicherry University, a Central University with a robust academic standing and a commendable NAAC grading. This affiliation, according to the CPI (M), had effectively settled the issue of affiliation for higher educational institutions in the region.
Expressing concerns over the proposed Deemed University, Mr. Ayyappan criticized the process, labelling it as a “shortcut” and a “backdoor method.” He pointed out that the lack of legislative sanction required for establishing a university raises serious questions regarding the legitimacy of the proposed institution. The Deemed University is purportedly set to be established under the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Legal Education Society, formed in 2015 primarily to manage Andaman Law College in Port Blair.
Under the current proposal, all seven government colleges operating in the islands would be incorporated as constituent units of the proposed Deemed University, effectively severing their affiliation with Pondicherry Central University.
The CPI (M) lamented the lack of consultation with stakeholders, including teacher organisations, student bodies, alumni associations, political parties, and elected representatives. They asserted that the imposition of the Deemed University without adequate consultation could exacerbate the prevailing challenges in the higher education landscape of the islands.
Furthermore, the party raised apprehensions regarding potential fee hikes under the Deemed University model, which could render higher education inaccessible to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those in rural areas.
Critically analysing the state of existing colleges, the CPI (M) accused the government of neglecting to address fundamental issues such as the absence of regular principals and a significant reliance on contractual teaching staff. They argued that instead of focusing on improving existing facilities, the government’s proposal to establish a Deemed University could exacerbate existing challenges and create further instability in the higher education sector of the islands.
The CPI (M) underscored the need for a thorough reconsideration of the proposed Deemed University, urging the authorities to prioritize the interests of students and the broader educational community in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.