Norms violated by private junior colleges

RULES DON'T exist for these "businessmen" running colleges. Even if someone insists that rules do exist, the laid out norms are just treated with contempt even as the helpless students and parents are milked to the hilt.

The mind-boggling fee collected by the "Corporate" private junior college managements is an indicator of how the Government rules are disdainfully ignored by them. The disparity between the fee approved by the Government and what the Corporate and the so called "quality" colleges collect is too vast to be ignored. Depending on the location and the "quality" of the colleges the difference varies between 10 to 100 times than what the Government had fixed.

But, the huge fee doesn't deter the parents to flock these colleges for admitting their wards. "At least the children are assured of good education. Its not that we want to burden our purses but we are helpless. The Government should put a check on the fee structure", says Mr. Chandrasekhar, who admitted his daughter in one of the "reputed" colleges paying heavy fee.

According to a directive issued by the Board of Intermediate (BIE) a week ago, the aided colleges should not collect more than Rs.255 (first year) and Rs.280 (second year) while colleges in the unaided sector can collect Rs.510 (first year) and Rs.560 (second year). It warned of stringent action against the erring college managements but the threats seem to have confined to statements alone.

Till now, the records don't show of any action against the erring colleges despite it being an open secret that most of the colleges defy the norms in collection of fee as well as admitting the students.

However, Dr. M. Srinivasa Rao, Secretary, BIE, says that action would be initiated against the colleges if parents or students lodge a complaint.

But, the private college managements say that they too have their compulsions. They argue that for recruiting quality teachers, providing better amenities and creating an academic atmosphere for students to learn better they spend huge money. "The fee prescribed by the BIE is peanuts given the facilities we provide", says the Correspondent of a reputed college in Kukatpally. Still, collecting Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000 a year for an Intermediate student sounds quite harsh!

BCA aspirants distressed

ASPIRANTS OF the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) course are a distressed lot what with the inordinate delay in the announcement of entrance test results.

With the admission in the degree colleges coming to an end the students are worried that if they fail to make it to the BCA, they would also lose a chance to get into a degree course of their choice. Last year too, a similar situation arose and many students were forced to take up BCA in colleges they had not wished since admission in the degree colleges were completed by then.

Though some were accommodated, they had lost an opportunity to join the college of their choice and the course they preferred. The aspirants are demanding the authorities to expedite the process and declare the results soon.

R. RAVIKANTH REDDY

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Section  : Southern States
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