New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) Stating that there is a need for many more colleges and universities in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that he has written to Union Education Minister Ramesh
Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ seeking to abolish the Section 5(2) Delhi University Act, 1922 so that new colleges and universities can be opened in Delhi.
Addressing a digital press conference here, Mr Kejriwal said that the Delhi University Act made during the British era states that a new college needs to be affiliated with Delhi University. Mr Kejriwal said the Delhi government is ready to open new colleges and universities in Delhi.
He said students are facing a tough time getting enrolled in colleges because of high cut-off marks. Mr Kejriwal asked with cut-offs touching 100 per cent, what will happen to students who secure 60 per cent, 70 per cent, 80 per cent, 90 per cent, 95 per cent?.
He also observed that every year, Delhi has around 2,50,000 students passing out from school, but around 1,25,000 of them manage to get admission in Delhi-based colleges. Mr Kejriwal asked what will happen to the remaining 1,25,000?
Mr Kejriwal said, “Students trying to get admission in colleges are facing trouble, given the 100 per cent cut-offs. Students below that mark too, have the right to quality higher education. High cut-offs are not the fault of students, it’s our fault. The Delhi government, previous governments and Central government.
‘This is happening because of the lack of universities and colleges in Delhi in comparison to the ever-rising number of students. Given that Delhi is the capital of the nation, it should have been at par with the increasing number of students however, there is a stark imbalance in the ratio of the number of universities to the number of students.”
