Bill to set up private universities tabled in state Assembly

Stating it was necessary to promote private universities on self-finance basis run by trusts or private bodies,the minister said that a law to regulate the functions of private universities and to bring uniformity in their formation was required and hence,this bill.

Senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia opposed the moving of the bill,saying that setting up of universities and granting them permission was in the concurrent list and hence not within the jurisdiction of the state assembly.

The Speaker,however,ruled that the state assembly had the jurisdiction and powers to bring such a bill and allowed the minister to move it.

In a constructive debate on the issue,Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president and MLA from Dabhoi,Siddharth Patel,said there were already 38 universities in the state and 30-40 more universities were likely to come in the next four to five years. So,there were no two opinions about the need of a bill to regulate private universities.

But,he added,it was highly important for the state government to make clear about its role in control and regulations of the private universities keeping in view the larger interest of students and the quality of higher education in the state.

Patel said the government must clarify whether it was transferring the responsibility of higher education on private institutions or it was making a joint effort with the private institutions in order to raise the standards of higher education.

He pointed out that the objectives of the bill emphasised the need for setting up of private universities,but the bill was silent on issues,like how much land would be required for a private university,how many buildings would be required,the minimum courses they would have to run,the need for setting up a library and system of evaluation among others.

He suggested that the government must ensure that private universities do not become “educational markets to make profits only”.

Senior Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia said he was not against more universities to come up in the state. But,only private universities proposed to be set up for students of the privileged class will not serve any purpose. Instead,the government should increase the number of grant-in-aid colleges,and improve their quality education,he said.