Fate of minority educational institutions hangs in balance

Even as the COMED-K has announced the examination dates for entrance test to professional courses next year, the status of entrance exams for the minority institutions and institutions not falling under VTU remains undecided. 

Though the Admission Overseeing Committee and the Fee Regulatory Committee chairpersons Justice Jagannathan and Justice Ajit Gunjal respectively, had specified in a meeting on December 16 that there will be only one entrance examination for all unaided colleges irrespective of their status, the minority institutions association has stood their ground and has asked for status quo. 

“We had a meeting on Wednesday. We want to maintain status quo and continue the practice that has been followed until now. We will conduct our own exams like every year,” said Shafi Ahmed, secretary, Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges Association (KRLMPCA). How universities such as PESIT would fit in to the new admission system is also yet to be seen. 

Ajoy Kumar, Chief Operating Officer (COO), PESIT, said the institution had two campuses: PESIT that is affiliated to VTU and the PES University campus which follows different set of guidelines for universities. 

“In the university, we have to reserve 40 per cent of seats for students from Karnataka. That will continue in the same manner. We are yet to take a stand on the new system as far as PESIT is concerned. We are not sure whether the proposed changes to entrance according to the 2006 Act will apply or not. It is early to speculate right now.” Meanwhile, students organisations have continued their protests and opposition to the new admission system. 

Technical Students Federation (TSF) has called for a single entrance test for Government and unaided should conduct only one entrance exam. It is the duty of institutions to provide basic infrastructure, according to AICTE and MCI norms. They cannot charge extra for this. 

The State has to rollback the Act and bring in a new legislation or it should amend the provisions under the Act for the benefit of students. 

The All India Democratic Students Organisation has called for PU Colleges bandh on Saturday protesting against the new provisions for CET from next academic year.