Four-year degree courses launched in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst reservations expressed by a section of academics and student organizations, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday launched the four-year degree course in the state.
In his inaugural speech, Vijayan dismissed the reservations as unfounded and said the new course structure would only help students to develop both academics and skills in a novel way.
The chief minister, who lauded the general education sector in the state, said the higher education area would witness sweeping changes with the introduction of the four-year degree courses. Several of university acts and laws were archaic and govt decision to overhaul the higher education sector was aimed at bringing international quality and competence to the state higher education sector, he added.
"The courses now launched will also undergo timely changes. There is a Malayali in the team of every Nobel laureate. But that excellence is missing in Kerala. Our talented people achieve excellence only after they leave the state. We should engage in an introspection to know why this happens. It's high time that our higher education sector imbibed continuous education and testing," said Vijayan.
It would be a grave injustice to youngsters if we don't embrace new trends and practices, the CM said. "In modern times, higher education has grown beyond the limits of knowledge sharing. It has to actively engage in knowledge production while also inculcating other skill sets," he said.
"It's in this background the govt has decided to introduce changes. It's done as per the recommendations of various committees headed by academic experts," he added.
The CM also highlighted the importance of autonomy of higher education institutions and urged students and teachers to be at the forefront to safeguard it.
Meanwhile, students' unions affiliated to opposition parties and a section of academics demanded the govt not to rush with the four-year degree courses without enough preparations and consultation.