Published Jul 09, 2026 | 3:07 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 09, 2026 | 3:07 PM
At the Government College of Arts and Science, Andrott, the BA Political Science programme has also been discontinued.
Synopsis: The Lakshadweep administration has discontinued four undergraduate programmes at two government colleges a day before admission counselling for the 2026–27 academic year, leaving students who had prepared for the courses in limbo. Students say the withdrawn programmes were among the few aligned with the islands’ employment needs and have disputed the administration’s claim that there was little demand.
The Lakshadweep administration has discontinued four undergraduate programmes at two government arts and science colleges a day before online admission counselling for the 2026–27 academic year, leaving students who had prepared for those courses with little time to reconsider their academic choices.
Representations have since been submitted to the administration urging it to withdraw the order and restore all existing programmes for the current academic year.
Under an order issued on Wednesday, 9 July, by Director of Education M Bharani, the Government College of Arts and Science, Kadmat, will discontinue BA English, B.Voc Software Development and B.Voc Tourism and Service Industry, admitting students only to BA Economics and D.Voc Catering and Hospitality this academic year.
At the Government College of Arts and Science, Andrott, the BA Political Science programme has also been discontinued, leaving B.Com as the college’s only undergraduate course.
The revised course matrix was notified shortly before the commencement of online admission counselling. Students contend that the discontinued vocational programmes were among the few courses aligned with Lakshadweep’s employment landscape.
While the B.Voc Software Development programme opened avenues in the information technology sector, the B.Voc Tourism and Service Industry programme prepared students for careers in tourism and hospitality, one of the islands’ principal employment sectors.
Lakshadweep NSUI chief Mohammed Kabeer told South First that the discontinued programmes were among the most relevant courses offered in the islands.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the arts and science colleges at Kadmat and Andrott during his first visit to Lakshadweep on Jan 1, 2022
“The cancelled courses are among the most important programmes in Lakshadweep because they offer better employment opportunities within the islands, especially in the tourism and service sectors. Many students who dreamed of building careers in these fields are now forced to choose only from the courses the government has allowed to continue. Students across the country are already struggling with limited opportunities, and Lakshadweep students had very few choices to begin with. Reducing those choices further, and that too on the eve of admissions, appears to be part of a wider agenda,” he said.
A student from Kadmat, who did not wish to be named for fear of repercussions, said the announcement had come as a shock after months of preparation.
“I dreamed of pursuing a degree in Political Science. I prepared for months, scored good marks in higher secondary, and was waiting for admissions to begin. No one is speaking for us. Learning that my dream course has been cancelled just a day before counselling is heartbreaking,” he said.
“Admission counselling for the new academic year began this morning, but students who aspired to pursue courses such as Political Science and Tourism and Service Industry are now left confused. They do not know what their next option is.”
The student said that although Lakshadweep students are entitled to a reserved seat in colleges in Kerala, studying on the mainland remains beyond the means of many families because of the high cost of education and living.
“This decision will disproportionately affect girl students, whose chances of pursuing higher education are often the first to be curtailed,” he said.
“The principal of the Andrott college had earlier told us that Political Science is one of the most sought-after courses, with most seats being filled every year. Yet the administration has now claimed that there was no demand for the course, which is completely baseless.”
An official in the administration told South First that B.Voc Tourism will be replaced with BBA Tourism. “BBA has more recognition and more useful in terms of career opportunities for students,” they added.
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The latest decision follows concerns about the administration of higher education in Lakshadweep following the transfer of the islands’ degree colleges from the University of Calicut to Pondicherry University in 2020.
Student representatives have raised issues including delays in the issuance of degree certificates, shortages of teaching and non-teaching staff, the implementation of a six-day academic week, and inadequate institutional support for mandatory internships and industrial visits.
Sabith, a Youth Congress leader from Lakshadweep, alleged that the Higher Education Nodal Officer had been vested with excessive administrative powers, with principals reportedly barred from communicating directly with Pondicherry University on academic matters.
He claimed that principals were also restricted from independently granting leave, organising programmes, inviting guests or taking routine administrative decisions.
He further alleged that many graduates from the 2020–23 batch had yet to receive their original degree certificates, affecting their ability to pursue higher studies and employment. He also criticised the six-day academic week, saying students in Lakshadweep were now required to attend nearly 40 instructional hours a week, compared with around 30 hours prescribed by the university.
“The moves disproportionately affect students who rely on part-time jobs, limit time for internships, assignments and extracurricular activities, and create difficulties for hostel students,” he said.
Sabith added that Pondicherry University’s main campus and most affiliated colleges continued to follow a five-day academic week, while no additional faculty had been appointed despite the increased workload.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
