APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University notice to colleges with low intake

Thiruvananthapuram: APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University will issue notices to self-financing engineering colleges with less than five percent admissions to submit a report on their infrastructure and faculty strength. At least 13 private engineering colleges in the state had less than five percent admissions after the third and the last round of counselling. Sources said though the law does not permit their closure on the ground of only low intakes, the university has the power to do it for lack of infrastructure.

There are 151 engineering colleges in the state - nine government, three aided, 25 government-controlled self-financing and 114 private colleges. Pro vice-chancellor M. Abdul Rahman said they cannot close them down merely because of an inadequate number of students. Last year, the university had convened meetings of those having less than five percent admissions to allow transfer of students to other colleges and shut.

“We warned them against massive losses and resources crunch with the low enrollments. However, most of them did not oblige,” Mr Rahman told DC. Sources said Travancore Engineering College, Oyoor, which agreed to close down as they found it difficult to sustain had agreed to shift its 295 students of previous semesters. Now one more, Pankajakasthuri College of Engineering, also wants to transfer students. The university would allow them to close down after completing formalities.