33 self-financing engineering colleges ceased operations in Kerala; many colleges now for sale

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Self-financed engineering colleges in Kerala are enduring huge losses with 33 of them shutting down operations in the last nine years alone. More than two dozen colleges were converted into polytechnics. A college in northern Kerala was confiscated by a bank while several others are now for sale.

The surge in expense and a massive dearth of students for engineering courses have added to the worries. College Managements with more than one college are transferring all students to one college to cut expenses. Batches with low admissions have stopped functioning and children are transferred to other colleges. In 2015-16, there were 175 colleges in the technical university, now there are only 142.

According to the Self-Financing Colleges Management Association, almost 22,000 seats are vacant in colleges as most students opt only for colleges that promise top placement opportunities. After 3 allotments by the Commissioner of Entrance, even those students who did not write the entrance were admitted, but it was not sufficient to fill the vacant seats.

The government has not accepted the demand to allow admission to students from other states without entrance exams. 13 colleges with national NAAC and NBA accreditation have become autonomous colleges. The college owners are in crisis, unable to cover the interest cost of huge loans from the fees. The construction cost of colleges is 40 to 45 crores. There are colleges with an area of ​​one and a half lakh to eight lakh square feet. About 100 teachers and more technicians including non-teaching staff are required for proper functioning.

Most of the places do not pay heavy salaries as per AICTE norms. For management seats, a fee of up to 99,000 rupees, a special fee of 25,000 rupees and a deposit of 1.5 lakh rupees can be charged. However, due to the current dearth of students, the management is trying to lure students with scholarships and lower fees.

• To maintain recognition, facilities including a language lab as per AICTE guidelines should be provided.

• Electricity, drinking water and tax rates are also huge. Salaries also require a lot of money.

• According to AICTE norms, there should be 14 teachers in a batch. Labs also need technicians.