Varsity Bills passed amidst uproar
Opposition parties demand Government set up committee
The entry of the State’s first private university, Azim Premji University, got the green signal from the Legislative Assembly on Friday, amidst opposition parties staging a dharna against it.
The ordinance replacement Bill was passed amidst pandemonium with the entire opposition staging a dharna in the well of the House protesting the Bill being passed in its present form. Besides, the Assembly passed the Alliance University Bill, 2010. This is likely to be the second private university in the State.
Proposed to be a self-financing university, Azim Premji University is likely to be located in 50 acres of land in Sarjapur, Bangalore.
It will focus on teaching, training, research and development in the fields of elementary education, secondary education, besides education management, education in finance and technology in education. Unlike in conventional universities, there is no reservation in the private university.
The Azim Premji Foundation, which has taken up the initiative to chalkout the road map for the university, proposed to begin functioning from next year and likely to be a full-residential university.
The university will engage itself in educating professionals who will be required for building the capabilities of teachers and managers as educators.
Besides, it intends to train people who make policy decisions based on their knowledge about education. There is no university in the country which is dedicated purely for the elementary education.
Other than generating trained educational professionals, it plans to offer a post-graduate programme in education initially.
Several short-term courses targeted at in-service development needs of education managers, teacher educators and teachers, will also be offered in the university estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore.
According to Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali, setting up the University will go a long way in enhancing the gross enrolment ratio in the higher education sector, which presently stands at 11.5 per cent in the State. The Government has proposed to give considerable freedom in its mangements. However, it can intervene in case of mismanagement, he added.
Section 54 of the Bill provides the power to dissolve the university. On identification of mismanagement, indiscipline, the Government can issue directions to the management of the university to set right the administration. “If the direction is not followed within such time as many be prescribed, the right to take decision for winding up the university shall vest with the government”, the section states.
Opposition
However Opposition parties have demanded a joint House select committee to look into the issue. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said there is no reservation in admissions and the State government has no control over the proposed university.
Moreover, term of the chancellor is lifetime, which is unprecedented, he added.
Another senior leader G Parameshwara argued that the Foundation has not opened a single educational institution of its own and how can it be allowed to start a university, he wondered.
Many other members, including those in the ruling party, sought changes in the Bill to ensure the Government control. But the Chief Minister refused to budge.
“There is no need to doubt a person like Azim Premji. I have personally spoken to Premji on this and he has only service moto in running the university...I am fully convinced about it,” he said. Later at a press conference, Siddaramaiah said the Opposition will continue its dharna in the House when it assembles on March 17.
Alliance University
The Alliance University Bill, 2010 was also passed subsequently, but without any debate. The Alliance Business School of Bangalore, which is an institution managed by Scheduled Tribe community, has come forward to set up the university. Both the Bills will now be placed before the Legislative Council for its approval. And, later it will be sent to the Governor’s assent.
