Latest news with #C.Samayamoorthy
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Frequent transfers of higher education secretaries in Tamil Nadu a cause of concern
The Higher Education Department Secretary, C. Samayamoorthy, was transferred on Monday (June 23, 2025). He has been replaced by P. Shankar, who becomes the seventh secretary to hold the post in the last two years. In July 2023, D. Karthikeyan was transferred from the department and replaced by A. Karthik. Subsequently, the School Education Secretary held additional charge for a few days. Pradeep Yadav followed, and then K. Gopal was appointed, succeeded by Mr. Samayamoorthy. Now, within months, Mr. Samayamoorthy has been replaced by Mr. Shankar. The frequent change of leadership has left teachers' associations discontented. S. Suresh, president of the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association, said a secretary should serve for at least a year to effectively address issues. K. Raja, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers, noted that the government has made no progress in streamlining fees charged by aided colleges, despite forming a committee for the purpose four years ago. 'None of the secretaries have made any effort,' he said. 'A secretary should stay at least a year to understand and address the issues.' He pointed out the Higher Education Secretary also serves as the convenor committee chairman for several universities in the absence of appointed Vice-Chancellors. 'In the past five years, none of the Higher Education Secretaries have functioned effectively. Many have held the position, but few have served the department meaningfully.' He added that the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) benefits have not been disbursed since 2021. 'The problem is not a lack of awareness, but lack of execution,' he said. The fee fixation committee, chaired by retired judge K.N. Basha and formed in 2021, has yet to see its recommendations implemented. The government is also yet to release course fee details for the 2025–26 academic year. 'We have submitted several amendments to the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation Act, but they have not been taken up,' Mr. Raja added. C. Murugan, president of the Madras University Teachers Association, said successive secretaries have failed to secure grants for the university. Retirement benefits for university employees have been pending since 2017. 'Both teaching and non-teaching staff are under pressure,' he said. He also raised concerns about delays in the university's free education scheme. 'Around 900 students have applied. We were asked to conduct online interviews, but the meeting scheduled for Monday was postponed. Students are expected to join by the end of June. It's disheartening to see their hopes dashed,' he said. 'I am a member of the committee, and seeing their dejected faces is painful.'
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Frequent transfers of higher education secretaries i Tamil Nadu cause concern
The Higher Education Department Secretary, C. Samayamoorthy, was transferred on Monday. (June 23, 2025). He has been replaced by P. Shankar, who becomes the seventh secretary to hold the post in the last two years. In July 2023, D. Karthikeyan was transferred from the department and replaced by A. Karthik. Subsequently, the School Education Secretary held additional charge for a few days. Pradeep Yadav followed, and then K. Gopal was appointed, succeeded by Mr. Samayamoorthy. Now, within months, Mr. Samayamoorthy has been replaced by Mr. Shankar. The frequent change of leadership has left teachers' associations discontented. S. Suresh, president of the Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association, said a secretary should serve for at least a year to effectively address issues. K. Raja, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers, noted that the government has made no progress in streamlining fees charged by aided colleges, despite forming a committee for the purpose four years ago. 'None of the secretaries have made any effort,' he said. 'A secretary should stay at least a year to understand and address the issues.' He pointed out the Higher Education Secretary also serves as the convenor committee chairman for several universities in the absence of appointed Vice-Chancellors. 'In the past five years, none of the Higher Education Secretaries have functioned effectively. Many have held the position, but few have served the department meaningfully.' He added that the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) benefits have not been disbursed since 2021. 'The problem is not a lack of awareness, but lack of execution,' he said. The fee fixation committee, chaired by retired judge K.N. Basha and formed in 2021, has yet to see its recommendations implemented. The government is also yet to release course fee details for the 2025–26 academic year. 'We have submitted several amendments to the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation Act, but they have not been taken up,' Mr. Raja added. C. Murugan, president of the Madras University Teachers Association, said successive secretaries have failed to secure grants for the university. Retirement benefits for university employees have been pending since 2017. 'Both teaching and non-teaching staff are under pressure,' he said. He also raised concerns about delays in the university's free education scheme. 'Around 900 students have applied. We were asked to conduct online interviews, but the meeting scheduled for Monday was postponed. Students are expected to join by the end of June. It's disheartening to see their hopes dashed,' he said. 'I am a member of the committee, and seeing their dejected faces is painful.'
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu varsities told to focus on faculty development and placement improvement
Tamil Nadu universities will receive ₹200 crore to develop plans to improve the performance of permanent faculty in government colleges, Higher Education Secretary C. Samayamoorthy told the Registrars of universities at a recent review meeting here. Registrars must ensure that permanent faculty in government colleges participate in development programmes under 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme, he told the university officials. The Registrars must device plans to improve the performance of the government college teachers and the teachers' incentive will depend on their performance, the secretary said. The Director of Collegiate Education must ensure that all faculty attend the development programme. The instruction came during a review meeting of placements under 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme with university Registrars earlier this month. Some universities had shown poor placement under the scheme. He said the officials should identify employment sectors in regions surrounding the universities and its affiliated colleges. Colleges must be instructed to train students in those sectors and improve placement. Mr. Samayamoorthy said university officials could hold video conferences with college placement officers and conduct meetings with controllers of examination. The onus is on Registrars to ensure that students are given proper guidance on employment, internships, higher studies and research. The university officials have been urged to identify students with arrears in fifth and sixth semesters and enable them clear their arrears in the subsequent attempt so that they get placed. Mr. Samayamoorthy mooted the idea of filling 30% of faculty posts in universities with retired and emeritus professors. The agenda would be placed before the Syndicates for its approval, he said. Universities have been advised to acquire the software that Anna University uses to provide affiliation to colleges and for Ph.D registration. It is proposed to create a common online portal for Ph.D registration and a centralised entrance examination will be conducted for Ph. D courses. Universities have been instructed to ensure that all Ph. D theses are translated into Tamil. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Collegiate Education instructed Registrars to use funds available in Chief Minister's Research Fund (CMRF) instead from the universities. Institutions must share the prospective list of research projects as well, the commissioner said. Fee increase All State universities except Anna University, will publish end-semester results by June 15 and the academic year will open for colleges on July 1. The decision was made at a meeting of State University Registrars held earlier this month. Universities have been permitted to revise fees by less than 20% and increase the fee for arrear examinations. Each department will fix a target to generate revenue. Universities have been encouraged to create merchandise, such as mugs, t-shirts, and caps, featuring their logo and the name of their founder or leader after whom the university is named.
