THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Higher Education Minister R Bindu on Wednesday said that the ordinance to remove the Governor from the chancellor post is part of the reforms in the higher education sector. The minister said that the decision is also to raise the standard in the academic field.

The ordinance is brought to appoint education experts in universities. Whenever the left government came into power, the best academicians were appointed as VCs in all the universities in Kerala. Three commissions were appointed as part of this. The report of the commission pointed out that an academician should be appointed as the chancellor as in the case of non-foreign universities. The Poonchi Commission report also states that the Governor should be released for other duties. The minister said that this is what the government has considered.

The government has not interfered with the Shyam Menon Commission report either. This is a report prepared by academicians. Detailed meetings were held after the commission report. Eminent persons from the higher education sector of Kerala including teaching and non-teaching representatives, vice chancellors and student representatives participated in such meetings. Group discussions were held. The government is proceeding by considering their opinion on how to implement the commission's recommendation. The minister also said that she hopes the governor would fulfill his constitutional obligation to sign the ordinance.