Anna varsity to be fountain head of Eng education in TN

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced that Anna Universities in Tiruchirapalli Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Madurai would also be brought under the control of the Anna University here. An official press release said the Anna Universities Integration Act would come into effect from August 1. Consequently, 535 self-financing and aided engineering colleges would come under the university. She said her government has been taking all efforts to ensure that students are provided quality education, For the development of human resources, education was an important tool. 'In a bid to give importance to technical education, former Chief Minister MGR had started a university in the name of Anna on 4 September, 1978, she recalled. 'In 2001, during her previous regime, in a bid to have proper supervision and ensure that students get quality education in the 237 self-financing and aided engineering colleges, made them affiliated colleges of Anna University. Also, the certificates issued by Anna University are given greater recognition globally, she said. 'Opening of more engineering colleges will not improve the quality of education. By bifurcating the Anna University, Chennai, it had lost its strength. As a result of which the quality of education has not improved. Hence, a Bill was passed in 2011 in the State Assembly to merge these universities with a view to ensuring uniform standards in technical education across the state', she said. For administrative purposes, zonal offices would be opened in Tiruchi, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Madurai, the release said. For those who joined these five universities before 2011-2012, all examinations for November-December 2011 would be conducted on the campus of the respective universities. From now on, examinations, including the ones held in January and in May 2012 would be held by Anna University in 17 zonal offices, she also announced in the release.