Govt. proposes legislation on professional courses

Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 (UNI) The Left Democratic Front government in Kerala will enact a comprehensive legislation regarding admission to professional courses removing the inadequacies in the existing Act and bringing professional education within the reach of the common man.

Declaring the government's resolve in this regard, Governor R L Bhatia told the opening session of the 12th Assembly that the present trend of "crass commercialisation of education" would not be permitted under any circumstance.

He said comprehensive measures would be taken to revamp the system of entrance examinations for admission to professional colleges giving the students better access to specialised coaching.

Mr Bhatia said the initiative to develop the Cochin University of Science and Technology to the level of an IIT would be expedited by instituting a fast track mechanism for the implementation of the project.

He said the proposed open university would start functioning during the current financial year itself.

The Science and Technology Department proposed to set up a Kerala School of Mathematics as a joint venture in collaboration with the National Board of Higher Mathematics under the Department of Atomic Energy to promote mathematical research.

The Biotechnology Programme would give specific thrust to industrial application and applied research projects, he said.

The government would strive for the improvement of quality in higher education providing emphasis to revision of curriculum and research in universities. A permanent mechanism would be set up for the continuous evaluation of the academic content, curriculum and mode of teaching in the universities, Mr Bhatia said.

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