MG University denies move against SME colleges

Kottayam: The MG University has denied the speculations about cancelling the admissions  to the self-financing colleges coming under the School of Medical Education (SME).

The university has  three SME colleges at Gandhinagar, Puthupally and Cheruvandur running  paramedical courses. The SME,  the first among self-financing colleges  under the MG University since  1993, also has nine nursing colleges at different places in the state.

“The reports about closing down the SME colleges do not have any basis.  The institutions are being directly run by the university,” Dr P.K. Padmakumar, syndicate member in charge of the self-financing institutions of the university, told DC.

Around 4,000 students are studying in the 12 SME colleges. The Kerala Students Union has  launched a strike against the alleged move to closes down the campuses.

Dr Padmakumar said that the university will not hand over the SME to the Health University as speculated. He also denied that the university syndicate had taken a decision not to give admissions to the first-year students from next year onwards.

KSU district president Jobin Jacob told DC that  there was a move to bring the SMEs under the Health University and not to admit students from the next year onwards.  “If the university does not   change its stand, we will intensify the strike,” he said.