Kerala government would seriously consider the demand for setting up a co-operative university in the state for the control of educational institutions in the sector, co-operatives minister G Sudhakaran said today.

Replying to a calling attention motion by V N Vasavan (CPI-M) in the assembly, the minister said the proposal would require a policy decision of the government and so far no such decision had been taken on the matter.

Of the 40,000 seats available in professional colleges, 14,000 seats were in co-operative institutions. The state now had 23 professional colleges in the sector with a total asset of Rs 2,399 crore, he said.

A total of 85 arts and science colleges with a student strength of 1.5 lakh were also functioning in the state. In such a scenario, the demand for a separate co-operative university would be considered, he said.