B A Prakash
He said the commission’s primary mandate was to assess the financial health of the 10 universities under the state higher education department and recommend measures to ensure their financial sustainability by curbing wasteful expenditure and exploring innovative ways to mobilise resources. At Kerala University, nearly half the faculty positions across its 50-odd teaching departments are filled by guest lecturers.
Prakash said the deteriorating financial health of universities was undermining their ability to fulfil their core objectives — training students in research and equipping them to become original knowledge creators. Highlighting another aspect of Kerala University’s financial strain, he said pension payments to retired employees exceeded the amount spent on salaries for serving staff. Thrissur: B A Prakash, economist and chairperson of the newly constituted university finance commission, has sought to dispel fears that the panel is a precursor to the privatisation of public universities in Kerala .