COIMBATORE: With AICTE and UGC mandating AICTE approval for undergraduate management and computer application courses (BBA, BCA) from this academic year, parents, students and college administration are in a state of confusion as several colleges are yet to get AICTE approval. Till now, AICTE approval was not required for BBA, BCA courses and source said the council sent a circular to colleges last June making it mandatory in a bid to improve the curriculum.
While a few colleges have stopped admission to these courses, a few others have started temporary admission without AICTE approval. With class 12 public exam results expected on May 6, students and parents expect the state government to intervene and issue clear instructions to the colleges.
An assistant professor from private arts and science college in Coimbatore said they are sending back those who approached seeking admission to BCA course since they have not received any instruction from Bharathiar University on admitting students. “Apart from BU which controls over 100 private colleges in Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur and Nilgiris district, Madurai Kamaraj University and Tiruchy Bharathidasan University also face similar issues. The state government, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and higher education secretary should announce that colleges can admit students,” he said.
Association University Teachers vice-president P Thirunavakarasu said they strongly oppose the AICTE’s decision as it would affect rights of state universities. “Fees will sharply rise and engineering colleges will not maintain reservation quota,” he said
According to Ajeet Kumar Lal Mohan, president of the Association of Self-financing Arts, Science and Management Colleges of Tamil Nadu, “A total of 67 associations across the country have challenged the AICTE in the Supreme Court. Some state governments have also joined in this and we strongly hope the AICTE will not implement the proposal since the matter is sub judice. It cannot be implemented without the concurrence of the states. It is impossible to get new approval from AICTE which is a technical institution when the existing colleges have been running the course for decades. Three hearings in the top court are complete and the next hearing is scheduled on May 10.”
A Ponnusamy, Principal of Hindusthan College of Arts & Science in Coimbatore, said they have applied for the approval on AICTE portal. “Like us, several colleges offering MBA and MCA courses are also doing so since AICTE is already verifying the facilities and staff strength at our institutions. Despite several states opposing the move, the apex court has not stayed the AICTE’s proposal,” he said.
However, private arts and science colleges in Chennai are not facing any problems. College officials said majority of the private institutions in the city are already offering master’s degree in these streams, and getting approval for undergraduate courses will not be an issue. “We have all our paperwork ready, furnished all data on our BBA and BCA courses and received the approval,” said Archana Prasad, principal, MOP Vaishnav College for Women.
Majority of the principals with whom TNIE spoke to said they have got approval from AICTE without any hindrance. Anna University Vice Chancellor R Velraj said he is hoping the state government will react soon. When contacted, Ponmudy confirmed that the issue is in court and promised to make an announcement after holding discussion with education officials.
(With inputs from Binita Jaiswal @ Chennai)
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