Chennai: The Higher Education Minister Ponmudi expressed concerns about the lack of quality in the Ph.D. courses offered by universities, addressing the issue during a consultative meeting with Vice-Chancellors.

The meeting, held at the State Higher Education Forum on Kamarajar Road, Chennai, brought together Vice-Chancellors from various universities. Discussions focused on the quality of curricula in member colleges and the financial burdens facing universities.

Officials reported that nine Vice-Chancellors from Tamil Nadu's 13 universities attended the meeting, while representatives stood in for four universities lacking appointed Vice-Chancellors.

During the discussions, Vice-Chancellors highlighted funding shortages and presented audited financial accounts. They also requested the filling of vacant posts.

The Minister his dissatisfaction with the quality of university curricula, including the Ph.D. programs. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the syllabus set by the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Council.

Minister Ponmudi also noted that government and government-aided colleges were not uniformly following the approved syllabus and timetable.

He urged universities to enhance their standards to gain better recognition, reflecting a broader concern for maintaining educational quality in the state's higher education institutions.