JOIN USStudents find govt wanting in fee, seat-sharing issues
Even as the government and private managements are going back and forth over their decision with regard to the fees for professional courses fee and seat sharing, second year PU students feel that the government is not doing enough to make the situation better for them.
That the government is playing with their minds, creating unnecessary panic ahead of the II PU exams in March and that the education minister is not giving his 100 per cent towards resolving the conflict are some of the opinions expressed by students.
A day after the Karnataka Unaided Professional Engineering Colleges Association (KUPECA) announced that they would not sign the consensual agreement with the government, uncertainty continues over the fees for professional courses.
On Wednesday, the Association members were to meet government officials. However, the meeting was not fruitful as the college managements did not turn up. KUPECA secretary Panduranga Setty told Deccan Herald that the meeting did not take place as “nobody turned up”.
“We have conveyed our opinion to the government. But we have not yet given a written representation,” Setty said.
Rishab R, a student of Jain College in Bangalore, felt that it was unfair that the students were being put through the ordeal at this time of the year. “Now is not the time to discuss the issue. The exams are approaching. They should have decided this earlier in the academic year. At least, we would have prepared ourselves mentally. I have seen some of my friends getting very disturbed over this. They are already thinking of alternative options for engineering and medical. It is difficult for students who will not be able to afford exorbitant fees.”
The government has to continue with the existing fee structure this year. If at all they want to make changes, they can do it the next academic year, the student said.
‘Time for minister to act’
Karthik Ravishankar, a student of Carmel PU College who will be taking the board exams in March and aspires for an engineering seat, expressed a strong dissent towards the government's approach.
“On one hand, I should be concentrating only on my exams and should not be bothered about what the colleges are saying. We all know that these statements are politically motivated. On the other, students are bound to be affected by the uncertainty. The Education minister is definitely not giving his 100 per cent.”
His concern was that a majority of the students fall under the “average performance” category and the parents have begun pressuring students to get more marks, which will hopefully save them some money during admissions.
“This will create unnecessary panic and tension among students. The government should immediately announce a final decision in the matter,” the student said.