Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has mandated that all teachers in self-financing colleges must possess qualifications set by the UGC, a move expected to have far-reaching implications for the state's higher education sector.
The decision follows an order from Kannur University warning that colleges with unqualified teachers risk losing their affiliation. The order, issued by Kannur University, was based on the directive of the Governor.
Kerala has a total of 982 self-financing colleges, including engineering institutions, with around 450 being arts and science colleges. Many of these institutions currently employ teachers without UGC qualifications, according to the Governor's circular to Kannur University.
To comply, the Higher Education Principal Secretary has instructed universities-including Kerala, MG, Calicut, Kannur, Malayalam, Kalady, CUSAT, KTU, and SN Open University-to amend their statutes to ensure faculty meet UGC requirements. Government sources told Mathrubhumi that this measure was taken in response to pressure from the Governor's circular.
Disruptions in self-financing colleges could lead to a student exodus from Kerala, influenced by interstate education lobbies. Previously, the 2021 Self-Financing College Act had allowed certain relaxations for teachers without UGC qualifications to obtain them.