Private colleges to boycott exam

Private degree and PG colleges affiliated to the Osmania University will boycott the second semester examinations for first year students which are due to start from May 10.

Around 1.5 lakh students will be affected with the boycott by Telangana Degree Colleges’ Management Association.

The managements boycotted the second semester examinations, which were to commence from Friday at Kakatiya University. This follows the government failure to increase the tuition fees despite the colleges claiming that maintenance costs had doubled.

Mr G. Ramana Reddy, president, Telangana Degree and PG Colleges’ Management Association, referring to the unified admissions said, “Dost-2016 was forcibly thrust down the throats of unaided college managements. Students were enrolled and we were directed not to collect tuition fees from them.”

He said the government had no right to admit a second batch of students into our colleges without clearing the reimbursement dues of Dost-2016’’.

He added that the colleges would not participate in Dost-2017 until the tuition fees are enhanced on rational and viable lines. He said the Choice Based Credit System introduced in 2016-2017 had led to a 30 per cent increase in costs.

“In the last five years, our costs have doubled but the government has not raised the tuition fees. We have put forward a list of demands including increase of tuition fees, postponement of online admissions until the end of Eamcet first counseling, or withdrawing from the process”, he said.

Mr T. Papi Reddy, chairman, Telangana State Council of Higher Education, said, “The issue is between the management and the universities. On Saturday there will be a meeting with a minister to work out a viable solution.”