AP govt to discourage PhDs via distance education

Hyderabad, Jan 18 (PTI) In the wake of allegedirregularities in awarding PhDs by a university, AndhraPradesh government today decided not to encourage admissionsto PhDs in the distance education mode.

"We have instructed that admissions and award of PhDs indistance education mode should not be encouraged. This is toensure quality in education," state Higher Education MinisterDamodar Rajanarsimha told reporters after a meeting with agroup of Vice Chancellors here.

The universities should ensure that rules and qualitystandards are maintained in awarding the PhDs, he said.

The government has decided to act tough over thefunctioning of the universities vis-a-vis PhDs in the backdropof allegations of irregularities in the Dravidian Universityin Chittoor district, Rajanarsimha said.

The Dravidian University has reportedly awarded over8,000 Ph.Ds during the last two years while universities suchas Osmania University and Andhra University in Visakhapatnamregister less than 500 candidates for Ph.Ds.

Apart from this, the Dravidian University has alsoreportedly permitted several private study centres in variousstates across the country and has been offering Ph.Ds indistance education mode against the UGC norms.

Admitting that there is a financial crunch, the ministersaid adequate funds would be provided to the universities. Toa query, the minister said examinations would be conductedfrom January 20 as per schedule in Osmania University.

Though there is a demand for postponement ofexaminations, it cannot be done as adequate time has beengiven to them, he said.