HYDERABAD: The fight between private colleges and the state government may cost the students dearly. With the government going back on its word and deciding to continue with the raids on the colleges, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of educational institutions here on Tuesday said that it would be boycotting Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET), which is scheduled for May 2.
The JAC, formed by Intermediate, degree and professional colleges and which called off their strike after talks with deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari, made it quite clear that they would not be cooperating with the state government and that exam centres of Teachers Eligibility Test and EAMCET would be locked out.
“The principal secretary of higher education had a meeting today with all the officials including the one from police department and all the registrars were sent a message asking them to co-operate in inspection. We don’t understand how a deputy chief minister can go back on his word. It was only on his assurance that we have called off the strike which will be resumed now,” Dr K Ramdass, co-convener of JAC, said.
“Schools, Junior and degree colleges have already been closed for summer vacation. The only way we can create an impact is by boycotting the exams. Unless the government agrees to our demand, the strike will continue,” he added. The JAC leaders, including Gautam Rao representing engineering colleges, S Prabhakar Reddy representing B.Ed colleges, Parameshwar Reddy and Ramana Reddy from degree colleges and K Ramdass of pharmacy colleges, said that the government would not have any option other than postponing the entrance tests as hall-tickets had already been issued.
“Hall-tickets are already out and exams are round the corner. So, even if they want to make alternative arrangements, they don’t have enough time. So, they have only two options, either to postpone the exams or compromise on the issue,” the JAC said.
The main demand of the JAC is that the government should keep the police out of the vigilance teams as the presence of police is intimidating. They claimed that no good can happen from these raids. The JAC would be meeting again on Thursday to take a final decision on their plan of action.
Main Demand
The main demand of the JAC is that the government should keep the police out of the vigilance teams as their presence is intimidating.