Protest against Toms College of Engineering clean chit

KOTTAYAM: The students have protested  against the renewal of the  affiliation of the Toms College of Engineering at Mattakara by the AICTE. The students who studied there earlier and  the union leaders said that  the college lacked infrastructure facilities.  The officials of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (KTU) had  cancelled the recognition of the college after the students complained about the lack of facilities.  “The college did not have labs as well as  computer and other provisions,”  said Prince B. Paul, a former  second-year chemical engineering student  who discontinued his studies at the college in January. Over 155 students  had left  the college and are waiting for the government to allocate them seats in other colleges.  

Only 35 among the 190 students of five engineering branches are now continuing in the college.  They were affiliated under the (KTU).  Another 78 final-year  students of B.Tech streams affiliated to the MG University are continuing their studies there.   There were allegations about college chairman  Tom P. Joseph  intruding  into the privacy of  girl students.  SFI  district president Rijesh Babu told DC that the college lacked infrastructure.  KTU registrar  G.P. Padmakumar said   they had previously asked the AICTE  not to renew the affiliation for the college.  “We have not renewed  its affiliation for the academic year 2017-18,” he told DC.  But  the college authorities claimed that the AICTE  renewed the affiliation after visiting the college.

Govt will examine decision, says Education Minister C Raveendranath

Education Minister Prof C. Raveendranath said that the government will examine the decision of the AICTE which renewed the affiliation given to the Toms College of Engineering, Mattakara. “The college should not be given affiliation. We will examine under what circumstance the affiliation has been renewed", Mr Raveendranath who came to inaugurate the state meet of the All Kerala Private College Teachers Association (AKPTCA) told reporters at Kottayam .

Inaugurating the 'education meet' as part of the state meet of AKPCTA at the Maman Mappila hall here the minister said that corporate lobbies were taking policy decisions in the education sector. "Throughout the world there have been challenges and issues in the public education sector. The main reason for this is that it is the corporate lobbies that are taking decisions instead of the experts in education or experienced persons. This is a dangerous scenario and it needs to be curtailed", he said.     AKPCTA state vice-president Dr D.K. Babu presided over the function, AKPCTA state president Prof OG Oleena, and Dr K.L. Vivekanandan were present on the occasion.