General secretary of the State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu P. B.
Prince Gajendra Babu speaking at the Save Higher Education seminar organised by Kalvi Padhukappu Iyakkam in Coimbatore on Saturday. | Photo Credit: S. SIVA SARAVANAN Teachers’ associations, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and All India Democratic Women’s Association on Saturday (October 31) demanded the withdrawal of the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026 of the State government and the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, and the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, of the Union government.The Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is inevitably linked to the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, which, in turn, is emblematic of the NEP 2020, said P.B.
Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu, addressing a seminar titled ‘Save Higher Education’ organised by Kalvi Padhukappu Iyakkam in Coimbatore.The demand was also echoed by representatives of teachers’ associations: Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Association, Association of University Teachers, and Aided College Teachers’ Association.These changes by the Central and State governments leave no scope for fructification of SFI’s ‘Education for All’ and DYFI’s ‘Employment for All’ ideals. The Tamil Nadu government ought to rather strengthen teaching and non-teaching manpower, laboratories and other academic paraphernalia in the government colleges and universities, Mr.
Prince Gajendra Babu said, seeking to caution the State that it will lose its leverage in regulating higher education in the event of Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, getting passed in Parliament.Teacher and student organisations will have to be pro-active in sensitising the public to the ways in which the proposed changes in higher education would run counter to the provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for the educational and economic progress of common man.The consent given to the University of Western Australia for opening its campus in Tamil Nadu would further precipitate commercialisation of higher education.Mr. Prince Gajendra Babu claimed that the State government’s Public Department has not yet withdrawn the “controversial” order issued on July 28, 2026, restricting school and college students from participating in protests organised by Left parties and other political outfits.
It borders on “fascism” and was a violation of the right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 (1)(1). Published - November 01, 2026 11:06 pm IST