Groups demand withdrawal of Tamil Nadu Private Universities Amendment Bill
Teachers' associations and student bodies in Coimbatore called for the withdrawal of several state and central education bills.
Teachers' associations, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and the All India Democratic Women’s Association demanded the withdrawal of the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Saturday, according to The Hindu.
Addressing a seminar titled ‘Save Higher Education’ in Coimbatore, P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu, said the state bill is linked to the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, and the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
Representatives from the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association, Association of University Teachers, and Aided College Teachers’ Association also echoed the demand.
Mr. Prince Gajendra Babu said the Tamil Nadu government should strengthen teaching and non-teaching manpower, laboratories, and academic paraphernalia in government colleges and universities.
He claimed the state would lose leverage in regulating higher education if the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, passes in Parliament.
Mr. Prince Gajendra Babu also stated that consent given to the University of Western Australia to open a campus in Tamil Nadu would precipitate the commercialisation of higher education.