‘Self-financing’ in higher education is still not a popular idea in the state, but it now appears to be the last resort of even a government-run institution to get out of its financial woes.
The cash-strapped Calicut University has approached the state government to allow it to start self-financing batches for the existing post-graduate and MPhil courses on the university campus at Thenhipalam.
According to the university officials, such a proposal was made by the Calicut University to the University Grants Commission and the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) some months ago.
“We have approached the KSHEC and expressed our readiness to start the self-financing batches for various courses in the Calicut University as a way to overcome the financial problems. As it needs a policy decision, it is for the state government to decide it,’’ said P M Niyas, syndicate member, Calicut University.
Though Calicut University has the authority to take a decision on its own on starting self-financing batches, it is learnt that the proposal was made to the KSHEC and the government to avoid courting another controversy.
Like other universities in the state, Calicut University has also been facing severe fiscal crunch for the past several years which has affected various functions, including the payment of staff salaries. University officials said that though the total expense of the institution is around `135 crore, the revenue is only around `79.5 crore per annum.
“If the government takes a decision in favour of our suggestion based on the KSHEC report, it will bring a revolution in the field of higher education.
“What we are planning to do is to start separate self-financing batches for 29 PG courses and MPhil by utilising the present facilities, including that of the faculty on the university campus itself,’’ Niyas added.
However, Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb said, “KSHEC has submitted a report regarding this and the government is yet to approve it. The state government will consider the request and decide.’’