THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet on Wednesday recognized an ordinance to bring distance, private studies at Kerala, MG, Calicut, and Kannur varsities entirely under Sree Narayana Guru Open University.

A notification will be released after the governor puts pen on this paper after which no other university in Kerala will have the chance for distance and private registration even with UGC recognition.

Keralakaumudi on August 11 reported an ongoing move to obliterate the relevance of Sree Narayana varsity. The government was forced by syndicate members to allow distance education following a relaxation in eligibility criteria by the UGC. Only A plus universities with more than 3.25 score in NAAC grading was able to allow distance learning. Due to the lack of eligibility, varsities in Kerala only had temporary recognition of 2 years from 2018. As this criterion is not applicable to open varsities, the government announced the new university.

The move to sabotage came after the UGC gave permission to universities to conduct open, distance courses for one year in light of the COVID situation. The Higher Education Department Principal Secretary Usha Titu had written to the Ministry of Education seeking permission for distance, open courses at Kerala, Calicut and Kannur varsities.