Pune: In a strongly worded message, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has voiced his displeasure following the removal of Dr. Ajit Ranade from the position of Vice-Chancellor at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics.
Thackeray directed his criticism toward the central government, the state government, and the University Grants Commission (UGC), demanding a review of the decision.
In a post shared on his social media platform, Thackeray expressed his concerns regarding the abrupt removal of Dr. Ranade. He criticized the reasoning behind the decision, which cited a lack of 10 years of teaching experience, pointing out that this factor should have been considered during Ranade’s initial appointment.
Ranade had served in the position for over two years, and Thackeray questioned the sudden importance of this criterion at this stage.
Thackeray drew comparisons between India’s education system and those of Western countries, where, according to him, professionals with significant industry experience often transition into academia.
He lamented the lack of industry relevance in India's educational system, blaming it partly on the fact that those who design the curriculum often lack field expertise and those who teach are similarly inexperienced. This, he claimed, has left students ill-prepared for real-world challenges, contributing to rising unemployment.
The removal of Dr. Ranade, who Thackeray described as a highly accomplished figure in the private sector, has sparked concerns about the government's approach to education.
Thackeray suggested that actions like these would discourage other experts and professionals from entering the field. He questioned whether such removals represented a new trend in education policy and demanded that the UGC and the central government correct their mistakes.
Raj Thackeray concluded his post by urging the state government to take up the issue with the central authorities, emphasizing the need for the government to prevent the demotivation of skilled and intelligent individuals in the education sector.
