Many private Andhra Pradesh institutes shut down

Hyderabad: United Andhra Pradesh had the highest number of private colleges asked to shut down following non-adherence to norms in the last two years, according to the Union HRD ministry.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, about 53 private institutes, which include engineering and pharmacy, were asked to wind up in 2013-14, while 52 such colleges were ordered to down shutters during the previous year by the All India Council for Technical Education.

Council officials say they were asked to shut down for violating its norms. Interestingly, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved addition of seats to several colleges for this academic year after the council agreed.

Union HRD minister Smriti Irani revealed that 115 private colleges had been asked to wind up during the last academic year. More than half these colleges were located in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

During the last three years, Ms Irani said, about 242 private colleges have been ordered to shut down by the AICTE. She cited falling demand for seats in colleges located in rural areas and the lack of qualified faculty as some of the problems ailing private institutes.

Dr S.K. Jena, deputy director, South Central Region, AICTE, said, “These are not just engineering colleges but all others like pharmacy and management. They have been asked to shut down for violating AICTE norms.”

Some of the norms that engineering colleges need to fulfil are a minimum of 66 square metres of classroom space, 2.5 acres of urban land space or 10 acres in rural areas, own land or lease for 30 years and so forth.

Interestingly, while on one hand, the council is asking colleges to shut down, on the other hand, courses and additional seats are being approved.

The AP government approved addition of seats in some streams of engineering in colleges under the JNTU Kakinada and others while already more than 1.6 lakh engineering seats in the two states will have no takers this year.