HYDERABAD: With the state government keen on amending the Andhra Pradesh Universities Act, 1991 before adopting it to universities in the state, the appointment of regular vice-chancellors is set to be delayed further.
Currently, all state universities are being headed by in-charge vice-chancellors and the government had appointed IAS officers of different departments to oversee the functioning of universities.
According to deputy chief minister and education minister Kadiyam Srihari, the government needs, at least, three months to rework and propose changes to the said Act before adopting it. However, he refrained from disclosing the changes and provisions that would go into enacting the new legislation.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the announcement of Intermediate first year results here Wednesday, the minister said: “The changes are being brought to improve the standards of education in universities across the State. Until then, there are no appointments of regular VCs. Work is underway to this effect.”
He also informed that the government was working on separate academic schedules for school education, intermediate, polytechnic colleges, collegiate education among others.
On engineering colleges disaffiliation, the minister said the government had no grudge against any college or management. The disaffiliation of engineering colleges was done only to safeguard engineering education in the state, he added.
There are a total of 288 engineering colleges in the state with a total of 1.70 lakh seats. However, only 1.10 lakh students clear Intermediate second year with MPC, he explained.
“So what is the use of the remaining seats, when there is no intake?” he asked and affirmed that the disaffiliation was carried out in the best interests of students.
He reiterated that the admissions to engineering colleges would be in compliance with the Article 371(D).
The government would upload information relating to all engineering colleges on JNTU Hyderabad website to enable students know about the colleges before joining them, he added.