Tue Nov 19 01:14:59 UTC 2024: **Calicut University Senate Demands Reversal of Student Data Sharing and Fee Hike**
**Thennala, November 16, 2024:** Members of the Kerala Pradesh College Teachers’ Association (KPCTA) within the Calicut University Senate today strongly protested the university’s decision to share student data with a private Maharashtra-based company, MKCL, under the K-Reep project, and a proposed fee hike for first-year undergraduate students.
Six KPCTA members, including Dr. V.M. Chacko, Dr. P. Sulfi, Dr. E. Sreelatha, G. Sunil Kumar, Dr. R. Jayakumar, and Dr. Manoj Mathews, raised placards during the Senate meeting, demanding the immediate reversal of both decisions. They argued that sharing the personal information of undergraduate students, including Aadhaar details, with a private company without their consent is unethical and potentially illegal, especially given concerns about data security. The members characterized the move as a challenge to the academic community.
The KPCTA members also questioned the rationale behind the fee increase, suggesting it might be linked to government policies encouraging self-sufficiency in grant-in-aid institutions. They deemed the hike unjustified and warned of intensified protests if the university fails to retract its decision. The senators emphasized the need for transparency and student consent in data handling practices.
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