Panaji: Following strong objections raised in the assembly by Opposition legislators to clearing of the Goa Public Universities Bill, 2025, in its present form, the bill was subsequently sent to a Select Committee on Friday.
Earlier, the Opposition MLAs pointed out several flaws in the bill. Aldona Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira said private universities and colleges are drawing students away from the Goa University by offering academic disciplines that the state university currently lacks. He said there was a need to protect and strengthen Goa University, and called for the Public universities Bill to be rejected and referred to a panel for further review.
Fatorda GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai warned that the bill could damage Goa University and called for a detailed review by a panel.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao also expressed serious concerns about the bill and said it will undermine the importance of Goa University. Legislators
Viresh Borkar and Venzy Viegas also objected to the bill in its present form.
Responding to the Opposition, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the National Education Policy 2020 mandates that by 2035 all affiliated colleges must evolve into degree granting multidisciplinary autonomous institutions. He further said the colleges in Goa, however, cannot be multidisciplinary autonomous institutions.
“Under the Public universities Bill, the colleges would be constituent institutions,” he said.
Not convinced with Sawant’s explanation, the Opposition insisted that the bill be referred to a Select Committee for scrutiny following which the Chief Minister agreed to the demand.
The Select Committee is headed by Minister for Water Resources Subhash Shirodkar, with legislators Ganesh Gaonkar, Digambar Kamat, Deviya Rane, Nilesh Cabral, Dr Chandrakant Shetye, Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, Adv Carlos Ferreira, Vijai Sardesai, Cruz Silva and Viresh Borkar as members of the panel.
Meanwhile, Goa Hoardings (Regulations and Control) Bill, 2025, moved by Sawant, was passed unanimously with corrections. As the bill was referred to a select committee in the last session, no discussion was held on it.
The Goa Public Universities Bill, 2025, seeks to provide for the establishment and incorporation of public universities in the state for implementing the goals of National Education Policy 2020, including multidisciplinary education, imparting quality and industry-relevant world-class higher education and for transforming higher education institutions into multidisciplinary institutions.
