HYDERABAD: The movement for and against bifurcation of the state appears to be casting a shadow on engineering admissions this year. A large number of students have opted for engineering colleges in Rayalaseema rather than Telangana or coastal Andhra.
Of the 1.8 lakh seats available under the convener’s quota, about 46,242 have been lying vacant after the first phase of web counselling for admission into engineering colleges. Though the exact numbers are unclear, officials say students are apprehensive about joining colleges in Telangana. “Issues like increasing number of seats, non-availability of faculty and other facilities are a cause of concern among the students.
But what is scaring them most is the uncertainty over whether they would be able to complete their studies as per schedule because of agitations,” said a senior official at the Sanketika Vidya Bhavan at Masab Tank in Hyderabad which acts like a command centre for all help centres across the State. Interestingly, even students hailing from Telangana opted for colleges outside the region in the first phase of counselling. However, many of them were cautious in choosing the colleges.
They have not gone in for coastal Andhra colleges either.
Colleges in Rayalaseema are the most sought after.
Students belonging to coastal Andhra region also have opted for colleges which are far away from major towns like Vijayawada and chose colleges in comparatively quieter places like Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and other places apart from colleges in Rayalaseema districts.
“Some parents who wanted to go in for management quota went in search of colleges in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as they wanted to keep their children away from frequent disturbances in the State,” said another official.
The uncertainty over fee reimbursement is also another reason for this unfortunate state of affairs. Of the 80,000 seats available under the management quota, only 50 per cent have been filled till date. Though the second phase of counselling commenced here on Tuesday, officials believe that not more than 6,000 of the 46,242 seats available under the convener’s quota will be filled.
According to sources, nearly 600 of the 660 engineering colleges got less than 300 students this year. The second phase of counselling will conclude on October 8. Candidates can change their options on October 9 and seats will be allotted on October 11.
