‘ENGINEER’ ADMISSIONS

Neet results remain up in the air, while counselling is well underway for engineering colleges across the country, with admissions for the latter determined by a number of tests like CET, COMEDK and JEE. Parents and students who are at the mercy of agents

The scramble for admissions to professional courses has begun now that the results of various state and national entrance tests are out. Making the most of jittery students and nervous parents, are the “agents” who step in with promises of seats in the top institutes of the state. Like leeches, they latch on to their prey in every professional stream, whether engineering, medicine or architecture and make a quick buck in the process. A quick recce of the current admission scene in professional colleges reveals parents are once again being fleeced by these middlemen as they search for the best option for their children.

ENGINEERING

While others slog it out, appearing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) or the Under Graduate Entrance Test (UGET) held by the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental colleges of Karnataka (COMED-K) for an engineering seat, one student, Kaushik (name changed), admits he has gained admission to a premier engineering institute in the city without appearing for any of these tests.

With “agents” stepping in to ease their way, and huge sums exchanging hands, students like Kaushik have a smooth ride to the best of colleges while others, with lesser means, burn the midnight oil to prepare for the entrance exams. “My financial status does not permit me to get a seat in a college even before the rank lists are annnounced. The fact that my parents are even now trying for a loan for my education disturbs me,” says Naveen, who passed his board exams with distinction.

While he clearly is no easy game for the agents, they don't give up being persuasive. Ms Jean, a parent from Basavangudi says her family began to get calls right from the week after they filled a form for a seat in a top engineering college. “Agents have been bringing pressure on us saying seats are fast filling up and advising us not to risk waiting for the official allotment,” she reveals.

The agents reportedly demand upto `10 lakh for a seat, which they claim will go to the college concerned, while conveniently forgetting to inform parents that the Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association has cut down on the annual fee owing to scarcity of students in engineering colleges.

MEDICAL

The delay in announcement of the results of the National Eligibilty and Entrance Test (Neet) that many students aspiring for a medical/dental seat in the state and elsewhere in the country have appeared for, has given middlemen the opportunity they need to prey upon their fears.

As students grow increasingly frustrated waiting for the results that have not been announced even a month after the test was held, they are moving in with promises of their own.

Says one student, Kalyani G, “I am confused and disturbed because of this delay. As my friends who have opted for engineering are already gaining admission to various colleges, my relatives are advising me to rethink my choice of study.” For middlemen complaints like these are music to their ears.

One parent, Suman, from Banaswadi says the delay in the announcement of results is used to the fullest by them to further their business.

“They demand `20 lakh to `30 lakh for a seat without a second thought. This is a total mockery of Neet and the authorities who hold it,” he protests.

ARCHITECTURE

Shortcuts are not uncommon here too. While other students sweat it out to appear for the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA), as they are required to score a minimum of 80 out of 200 to qualify for a general category seat, a good many are lured by agents or “supporters” as they call themselves, into paying huge sums to gain entry into colleges of their choice.

Says a parent from Horamavu. “I first received an SMS offering seats in top institutes of the city. Then I started getting calls negotiating the fee, and demanding Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for various choices. At one point, the agent even said a full payment now would bring down the annual fee of `5.75 lakh to `2 lakh.” The agents did not care to even ask whether her child had appeared for the qualifying examination, she adds.

Making the most of jittery students and nervous parents, are the ‘agents’ who step in with promises of seats in the top institutes of the state. Like leeches, they latch on to their prey in every professional stream Parents should realise they are not supposed to run their children’s lives based on their own interests. It is high time they left it to them to choose their own careers.” — T.V. MOHANDAS PAI, educational expert In the age of the Internet when all information is available online, parents should verify whatever they are told by the authorities/ agents before proceeding with their children’s admissions. Being patient and listening to their wards is equally important. — DIANA REBEIRO,

a parent Reforms in engineering education are the need of the hour. The Union government must ask all private colleges to admit students based only on the JEE (mains) or JEE (advanced) score card. It’s hard to understand why students contact agents when every state has many vacant engineering seats owing to the large number of colleges. — SHANTHA KRISHNA, a student hoping to join an engineering

course