HYDERABAD: The Board of Intermediate Education has asked Narayana Junior College in Bagh Amberpet where two students and a college staffer were injured in a serious fire accident, to explain the incident. It warned managements of all junior colleges that it would take serious action if they withheld certificates of students.
BIE secretary Syed Omer Jaleel said any violation of rules, regulations and guidelines prescribed in respect of issuance of certain certificates to the students “will be viewed very seriously and necessary action will be initiated on such managements.”
He said irrespective of who ran a junior college, whether private or government, should not withhold students’ certificates who were leaving the colleges. “It is the responsibility of the principal to issue all certificates to students while leaving the college,” he said, making it clear that withholding of certificates “by stating any flimsy reasons,” would not be allowed.
In a statement, Jaleel instructed district officers to inspect all private junior colleges and ensure that no college withholds certificates of any students for any reason whatsoever. Any complaint in this regard could be lodged with the concerned DEO or Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education, he said.
The demand of Narayana College that the student Sai Narayana seeking his transfer certificate first clear his fee dues, and the discussion in the college principal’s office and the subsequent incident of fire, sparked anger among different students’ organisations.
ABVP state secretary Praveen Reddy said the Narayana College episode again demonstrated the absolute lack of government control over fees collected by private colleges. Students were being harassed for high fees, he said. “Similar malpractices continue in corporate educational institutions across the state, and the government and BIE should take immediate measures to control the high fees,” he said.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India demanded legal action on Narayana group of colleges for Friday’s incident and withholding certificates of students. “The government had earlier promised it would kick out private corporate education but did nothing. If the government does not take action, then we will launch an agitation,” DYFI state president Kota Ramesh said.
Meanwhile, the Students Federation of India state president R.L. Murthy said Friday’s incident showed the pressure on students from Narayana and other private colleges and said the Narayana College management was fully responsible for Friday’s incident.
“The government must take serious action and fix the fee structure in junior colleges. How can the college hold back a student’s certificate? It is against the rules, and stops students from continuing their studies,” said Gouri Sateesh, Telangana Junior College Management Association, state president.
Adding to the same, P. Madhusudhan Reddy, president, Government Junior Lecturers’ Association said private colleges were violating norms by charging any kind of fee they liked which was not only unaffordable but also illegal. “Such colleges are at least collecting Rs 35,000 to nearly Rs 2 lakh,” he said.
