Defying Rules, Private Colleges Conduct Classes In Vacation

Hyderabad: Even during the summer vacation we see many private Intermediate colleges functioning. When questioned they point out that they are conducting special coaching to the second year Intermediate students for competitive exams. But in the name of the special coaching, the private colleges are also conducting regular classes for first year students.

The Intermediate Board has received several complaints following which they issued show-cause notices to errant colleges, after conducting an inquiry. Of the 323 junior colleges in Hyderabad district already 12 have been given show cause notices for conducting classes beyond the stipulated dates. Similarly in Ranga Reddy district there are 200 junior colleges and 20 have been issued notices.

Interestingly, the Intermediate colleges which receive such notices tend to declare holidays for two or three days and then start conducting classes regularly after the holidays. The education department has given permission for the junior colleges to hold special coaching for the second year students who are appearing for EAMCET, JEE and NEET competitive examinations. But the junior colleges tend to take advantage of this clause allowing them to prepare students for competitive exams.

Even before the class X results are announced, many private junior colleges in the city start the process of admission into Intermediate classes. With government Gurukulam schools also now providing Intermediate courses, there is stiff competition for private colleges to fill their vacant seats. As an answer to this, the management of the private colleges have now set targets for the lecturers to fill the vacant seats in their colleges.

Most of the institutions have appointed PROs for increasing their student strength and many teachers are roaming around in the colonies to identify the children who have written class 10 examinations. They are spreading the word that the management would increase the fees after the results are announced and that if they block the seat right away, students would be given 20 to 30 per cent discount.

District Education Officer of Hyderabad, Jayaprada said that the colleges which are conducting classes for first year Intermediate students would be severely punished "and if found guilty on the second occasion they would be not spared at any cost." She said that the state government was planning to introduce online system for admissions into junior colleges and warned not to fall prey to the middlemen as well as advance booking system.