Mani sees favouritism in Plus Two allocation

By Our Special Correspondent

KOCHI, JUNE 13. The Kerala Congress(M) leader, Mr K M Mani, has alleged that the Government had favoured individual managements in the allocation of Plus Two courses in the State.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Mani alleged that the Education Minister had flouted all norms and jeopardised the future of thousands of students, who were apprehensive as to how to continue their education. The Government had also abandoned the system of private registration, which had added to the woes of the student community. The suggestion of the Government that it was proposed to start 20 centres of Open School was "impractical and inadequate" to solve the mounting problems created by the Education Department.

He wanted the Government to allot Plus Two courses to schools which were in need of it or give the option to managements to continue the pre-degree system for one more year. The private registration system should not be disbanded and students should be allowed to take examination after studying in `parallel colleges', he said.

He said that even after delinking pre-degree from regular colleges, the Government had not disbanded the teaching and non- teaching staff and was continuing to add to the financial burden. It was a paradox that in the name of Plus Two, the Government was allowing further recruitment.

Mr Mani said that 1.75 lakhs out of the three lakh students who passed the SSLC examinations were being denied their fundamental rights to pursue higher studies. The UDF would be launching agitations on June 16 highlighting the plight of the students and parents.

Referring to the Revenue Card, Mr Mani said what was intended as a basic document to qualify individuals for benefits from welfare projects had become a `menace' to the masses. It was the UDF Government which mooted the idea of revenue card when he was the Revenue Minister. There were several impractical suggestions and questions in the revenue card, he alleged and wanted the Government to re-examine the issue.

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Section  : Southern States
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