Centre using guvs, VCs to derail higher edu: Govindan
Govindan told reporters on Friday that VCs are being chosen based on affiliations with Sangh Parivar activities, marking an unprecedented development in the state's academic sphere.
On the state's education achievements, Govindan claimed that the state's institutions are making significant strides, with 16 of India's top-performing colleges located in Kerala, as per recent assessments. He said the NITI Aayog report also specially commended the state's performance in higher education.
He said the LDF govt prioritised educational development but its efforts are being subverted by the Centre through unconstitutional actions.
"Governors are being used as tools to execute the Sangh Parivar agenda in universities. Many VCs now appointed are regular participants in Sangh-backed conferences. This is a new and alarming trend in Kerala," Govindan said.
He defended the ongoing student protests across the state, stating that they are aimed at safeguarding Kerala's academic autonomy and constitutional values.
"VCs are now taking positions that go beyond their constitutional mandate. Students, youth and teachers are resisting this undemocratic trend with strong interventions," he said.
On the KEAM rank list controversy, Govindan admitted that the govt's intervention to provide more opportunities for students studying under the Kerala syllabus did not yield the intended results. "The move didn't work out in practice, and the delay in policy thinking was a factor.
The party advised the govt to make necessary corrections next time," he said.
He highlighted concerns that many students were adversely hit when their ranks dropped in the revised list, citing the example of a former top-ranker who fell to the seventh rank. "The govt must ensure that students from the Kerala syllabus are not pushed back in future admission processes. What happened this time should serve as a lesson," Govindan added. He said the corrective changes should have been reflected in the KEAM prospectus itself.
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(AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 17, 2025, 11:45 IST News agency-feeds Mistrust, fear: Complex story behind strained Syria-Lebanon relations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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A lot has happened in just a year on both sides of the Lebanon-Syria border. A lightning offensive by Islamist insurgents in Syria toppled longtime autocrat Bashar Assad and brought a new government in place in Damascus. In Lebanon , a bruising war with Israel dealt a serious blow to Hezbollah - the Iran-backed and Assad-allied Shiite Lebanese militant group that had until recently been a powerful force in the Middle East - and a U.S.-negotiated deal has brought a fragile ceasefire. Still, even after the fall of the 54-year Assad family rule, relations between Beirut and Damascus remain tense - as they have been for decades past, with Syria long failing to treat its smaller neighbor as a sovereign nation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo Recent skirmishes along the border have killed and wounded several people, both fighters and civilians, including a four-year-old Lebanese girl. 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