Lack of UGC approval for SNG open university courses dashes hopes of 1.5 lakh students: UDF

Opposition says Kerala govt. should allow other universities in State to conduct distance education courses; Minister says approval will be ensured before October

The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on Thursday said the “abject failure” on the part of the Kerala government to get University Grants Commission (UGC) approval for the distance education courses offered by the Sree Narayana Guru Open University (SNGOU) had dashed the hopes of an estimated 1.5 lakh students. Moving an adjournment motion to discuss the “predicament of the affected students,” Congress legislator K. Babu said the SNGOU set up with much fanfare by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had become a white elephant of open and distance learning. The government had used the SNGOU as a vehicle for irregular and illegal appointments. The university was a non-starter. The LDF had besmirched the memory and legacy of the social reformer after whom the university was named, he said.