NT Reporter Panaji
The government on Monday agreed to defer the Goa Public Universities Bill, 2025, for a detailed discussion on August 8 following the Opposition’s argument that the bill lacked clarity and that it cannot be cleared in a hurry.
Seeking to implement the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant insisted on getting the bill passed in the ongoing session itself.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai sought to know how the bill would ensure that Goa University would not be weakened. He also questioned how the bill would benefit the existing colleges in the state.
Sawant tried to convince the House that the legislation will help create two clusters of institutions and provide liberty to the colleges to come under public universities with new courses. Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Ferreira pointed out discrepancies in certain sections of the bill.
Questioning the intention of the government in hurrying with the legislation, the Opposition later strongly demanded that the bill be sent to a select committee. The Chief Minister subsequently agreed for a detailed deliberation and announced that it would be taken up for discussion on August 8.
Once the Public University is notified, it will consist of a cluster of colleges as agreed to by the management of such colleges by notification in the Official Gazette. Such a cluster of colleges may include any government college, government autonomous college or government-aided college or government-aided autonomous college, fulfilling such norms or guidelines as laid down by the government from time to time.
The principals of cluster colleges will be appointed by the respective managements of the cluster colleges with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor as per the procedure prescribed by the Statutes.
The principals of cluster colleges shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office and shall be eligible for re-appointment for another term of
five years.
As per the bill, the teaching staff of the cluster colleges, upon establishment of the Public University, shall be deemed to be the staff of the Public University.
A provision of Rs 25 crore is being made in the budget for the purpose of the Public University.
Students of cluster colleges who were studying for a degree, diploma or certificate, as the case may be, in accordance with the regulation in force under the respective Act under which the Goa University was established, immediately prior to the establishment of the Public University, shall continue to be the students of the Goa University for the period required for the completion of the said academic programme.
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