The diploma students, who have already sought lateral entry admissions into private engineering colleges through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), can still opt for vacant seats in the 10 government engineering colleges in the State.
Reacting to the Express report on how hundreds of seats that went vacant last year could not be made available to diploma students this year, the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) clarified that the government order dated July 27 allows students to seek transfers, provided they were admitted before August 15.
“Last year’s vacant first year BE seats are still available for diploma lateral entry students if they are interested to join any of our 10 government engineering colleges. Those interested can approach the respective Principals. The principals will take a list of students to the KEA, which will then facilitate the transfers based on merit. The fee paid by students in private colleges will be reimbursed by the KEA,” said H U Talawar, Directorate of Technical Education.
He advised students to approach the principals of government engineering colleges in Bangalore, Karwar, Ramanagaram, Hassan, K R Pet, Kushalnagar, Haveri, Chamarajanagar, Hoovina Hadagalli and Raichur.
A total of 346 seats are available for lateral entry in these colleges, though they were not officially part of the seat matrix.
On the lack of communication between the DTE and the KEA regarding the tracking of the vacant seats, Talawar said it was the duty of the Principals to inform the State government regarding vacant seats.
“There is no lack of communication. Our duties are clearly demarcated. Our job is that of a facilitator while the KEA conducts the admissions. It is wrong to expect us to ask them. We have to look into the affairs of hundreds of colleges. It was the duty of the principals to inform us of vacancies arising out of students not reporting to colleges or those who left after admissions,” he said.
According to him, the government engineering colleges are no less than their private counterparts.
“I cannot say our colleges have the best infrastructure, but I can say that our colleges have the best faculty and our results have been consistent,” Talawar added.