Already giving 10% EWS quota, claim private colleges

The Centre’s move to enforce new reservation policy in admission to private higher educational institutions from this year to all categories of students has led to confusion among managements.

Private universities and institutions that offer general degree courses such as BSc, BCom, BA, law and management said they were already giving relaxation in fee to students from economically weaker sections (EWS).

“Almost all private universities are following the reservation policy. Among the seats in the management category given to students from EWS, reservation is more than 10%. So I don’t think the government’s move is justified now, as it is forcing on us what we are already practising,” S Y Kulkarni, vice-chancellor, Reva University, told DH.

Welcoming the government’s decision, National Education Society president A H Ram Rao said, “Education is meant for all. This will give a chance to the student who has merit, but is not able to afford the fees. Since we are already following this in our two rural colleges, I don’t think this will affect us in any way.”

The association of unaided technical colleges has expressed concern over the fee revision.

“The implementation of new reservation policy will not affect or benefit us in any way. Our main concern is the revision of fees. If the fee is revised as per our demands, this will not affect us in any way. Now, as the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations are implemented, we are bound to pay our faculties accordingly. I feel, without revising the fee, and abruptly increasing the student strength will affect us at some point of time,” Panduraga Shetty, president of Unaided Engineering Colleges of Karnataka, said.

The management of Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, deemed-to-be university, said, “There is no uniformity in the process.

Every year during the admissions, there are different norms. When the University Grants Commission (UGC) has itself clearly stated that all the deemed-to-be universities need not follow reservation norms, the government is asking us to implement this. We want to know who the deciding authority is?” said S Kumar, chancellor of Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research and executive secretary of ComedK.