(There is an urgent need for the
society, media and the government to develop a better
understanding of self financing institutions. Prior to
establishment of SF institutions in Gujarat, crores of rupees
were washed down from Gujarat to other states. If the SF
colleges are not granted sanction to charge reasonably
sufficient amount in the form of fees, there will be a breakdown
and the situation prior to 1995 will once again prevail.
Needless to say that the SF colleges are bound to follow all the
norms set by the AICTU and GTU.)
- Dr C L Patel
Chairman, Charutar Vidya Mandal (CVM)
And
Chairman, Federation of Self
Financed Technical Institutes of Gujarat (proposed)
I remember the days of 1995
(mid-nineties) when the government had ceased to provide
additional financial assistance to the grant-in-aid institutions
in higher education so as to allow them to undertake programs
for holistic development of the youth of the society. It was at
this juncture that the idea of SF institutions in the State was
conceived. It was under such circumstances of inadequate funds
from the govt. that SF institutions, i. e. institutions not
receiving grants from the govt. began to be established to offer
courses in Higher Education.
Decades before such a process
commenced in Gujarat, such SF institutions were already in
existence in the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The governments of these States were
conscious to provide encouragement and support to these
institutions of Higher Education. Subsequently, a large number
of SF institutions were operational in these States. Until 1995,
thousands of students from Gujarat were forced to study in these
institutions paying huge donations, high fees, yet with a sense
of subjugation. The parents were obliged to stoop to the demands
of these institutions and send their wards for studies outside
Gujarat.
In the year 1995, a few
managements in Gujarat conceived of starting SF institutions in
the field of Higher Education so as to facilitate grooming of
the youth nearer home. With the permission of the State
Government, they initiated the process of establishing SF
institutions. During the year 1995-96, such institutions were
very few. Year after year their number kept growing. At present,
the seats available for the various courses are as under.
Course (Full time + Part
time) |
Total no. of SF
institutions |
Total seats (Intake) |
Degree Engineering |
59 |
19709 |
Diploma Engineering |
54 |
19290 |
Degree Pharmacy |
84 |
5070 |
Diploma Pharmacy |
08 |
480 |
M. B. A. |
104 |
8080 |
M. C. A. |
44 |
3150 |
In my opinion, the management,
infrastructure and quality of education of these institutions
are far more superior to those of the institutions in
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. We are
well aware of the Gujarati students having returned from the
institutions from outside on account of ragging and similar
problems. Further, since liquor is legally permitted in these
States, our youth fall a prey to such a vice as drinking. Not
only in comparison to the Self Financed institutions outside
Gujarat but in comparison to the government-run institutions
within the State also the SF institutions of the State have
certainly proved to be better in terms of infrastructural
amenities and quality of education. This is evident from the
results of the Gujarat Technological University (GTU). Results
of government-run institutions are merely 20% to 40% which
implies that approximately 60% to 80% youth waste one precious
year of their life.
The society will have to accept
the fact that the SF institutions created by philanthropist
educational trusts are focused and result – oriented. They are
far more superior to the government-run institutions sustained
through people’s money or those spent in institutions outside
Gujarat. The govt. too will have to realize that there is a dire
need to empower our youth with the skills and knowledge
requisite of the 21st century and not create a mass
of helpless, unemployable job-seekers.
The Gujaratis have business and
entrepreneurial acumen. They have a sharp intellect. The present
govt. in the State too has a developmental perspective as
reflected in establishment of numerous industries. In the days
to come, many more high-tech industries will be established in
the State and the country. To make this endeavour successful,
the need of the hour is to revolutionise education and prepare
our youth for the changed industrial set up. The intellectuals
of the State can make this happen. The society and the
government will have to support the revolution by agreeing to
pay adequate fees. Moreover, currently there is an acute
shortage of senior faculty members. S F institutions which
started in 1995-96, now also offer post graduate programs.
Competent senior academicians are needed for such courses. We
must know that only if the faculty members have a high level of
competence, there will be quality in their interaction with
students, something that is absolutely needed for the
competitive times of today. Needless to say that such quality
education requires better investment in the form of higher fees.
During the last 15 years, the society at large, the govt. and
media have not understood not presented a proper note of the
progress of efficient S F institutions. Further, there is lack
of clarity regarding admission policy which places the students
and their parents in a dilemma.
It is necessary to decide the fee
structure and admission policy well in advance so as to avoid
legal hassles which have so far led to migration of Gujarati
students to other States, despite the presence of over 300
professional institutions in Gujarat itself. If the govt. wakes
up in time, that is, before the results of standard 12 are out,
this grim situation (loss of a huge amount) can be averted. On
the other hand, agents from other neighbouring states are
extremely active to carry busloads of students and their
guardians to their institutions. I do not intend to talk about
these agents or institutions from the neighbouring states.
Nevertheless, during this Swarnim year, it is extremely
necessary for our govt. to be resourceful and active for the
well-being of our Swarnim youth. No doubt I would
certainly desire that the State govt. should play active role in
making the authorities in-charge of the admissions to take the
decisions quickly and be watchful about the agents siphoning off
colossal amounts of money outside the State.
The welfare of
society lies in retaining this huge amount of wealth and in
providing the students of Gujarat good infrastructure in our
self financed institutions. Further, as the managements of
effective self financed institutions abide by all the rules and
regulations of AICTE and GTU and focus on concern for the
welfare of the society rather than profiteering, the self
financed institutions which have come into existence during the
last 15 years have been contributing a great deal in the
progress of Gujarat.
A meeting of
most of the self financed institutions of Gujarat was held on 2nd
May, 2010 at G.L.S. auditorium, Ahmedabad. From all over the
State representatives of more than 200 SF institutions offering
degree and diploma level courses in Engineering, Pharmacy,
M.B.A. and M.C.A. deliberated and pondered over issues such as
the fee structure and admissions. The need for deliberations
with the Government of Gujarat regarding some rectifications in
GTU Act passed by the GoG in the Assembly was emphasized.
At this meeting
everyone emphasized the need for a state level federation. A
consensus was arrived at wherein my name was suggested as the
Chairperson of this Federation. In the interest of the young
generation in particular and in the welfare of higher education
in the state at large, I accepted this responsibility as my ‘swarnim
resolution’ during this swarnim year. As the Chairman of
the Charutar Vidya Mandal running 4 engineering colleges, 1
diploma engineering college, 1 school of Architecture, 3
Pharmacy colleges and numerous post graduation courses, I feel
that a bridge of mutual understanding is needed between the
government and SF institutions. We are planning to set up our 5th
engineering institute with specialization in Defense Technology.
Along with providing support to trade and industrial
development, the government needs to give priority to SF
institutions in Higher Education. Strong supportive strategies
are needed for the purpose of strengthening SF institutions.
Supportive administration is inevitable to add rigour to Higher
Education. A collaboration of various SF organizations in the
state is now very much keen to bring about swarnim
educational revolution in a non-political manner by joining
hands with the government. Cooperation from the ministers and
bureaucracy is greatly expected in this endeavor.
SF institutions
in Gujarat are established with certain rules and regulations.
These institutions are bound to follow the rules prescribed by
the sanctioning authorities and to develop infrastructure as per
the norms of the government, AICTE and GTU. When the Fee
Committee did not consider the appeal of raising the fees, these
institutions approached the High Court of Gujarat which decreed
that the Fee Committee is merely a monitoring body. That is, it
is supposed to supervise how the money collected through the fee
is spent. The High Court as well as the Supreme Court have
decreed that the SF institutions be allowed to charge the fee
that is viable and affordable. Under my chairmanship of Gujarat
State SFI Engineering Colleges Association numerous requests
have been made to the fee-committee in this regard. If the SF
institutions do not get sufficient fees as per their requirement
then they will be forced to stop functioning and the State will
have to suffer a great loss. Even after much representation the
Fee Committee has not yet taken any favorable decision. During
the meeting on 2nd May, it was decided that once
again representation be made before the Fee Committee to decide
the fee that different SF institutions can collect. As per the
norms of AICTE and GTU, to run institutions efficiently and in
the interest of the students Rs. 75000 for engineering, Rs 1
lakh for pharmacy and Rs 125000 for P.G. courses should be
stipulated. Self financed institutions cannot take the fees
exceeding this limit. However, depending on their intake they
may take fees less than the stipulated limit.
Through the
medium of the newly established federation it has been thought
to place this matter to the Fee Committee, Admission Committee
and Government, as well.
As per the
decision taken by the core committee of the federation in the
meeting held at Ahmedabad on May 3, 2010, after proposing this
it has been planned to meet the Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri
Narendra Modi to take decisions keeping in view the welfare of
education during this swarnim year for swarnim
progress of education in the State. The State Government has
also accepted implementation of the 6th pay scale but
the fees determined for SF institutions are as per the previous
scale (5th pay scale). The fee once decided by the
Fee Fixation Committee remains unchanged for the next seven
years.There is a need to consider the monetary burden of the 6th
pay for the next seven years, the source of income for better
education and salaries to senior academicians along with
necessary infrastructure. The fee structure must be revamped in
the context of these challenges.
It is a joint
liability of the Fee Committee, Admission Committee, Government
and media to create an ambiance that facilitates well-being of
the students and their guardians and the State at large. Or
else, the same situation of the mid 90’s will be repeated when
colossal degree of wealth was washed out to other States.
At this
juncture, as the Chairman of the federation of all the
managements of self financed institutions, it is my humble
request to the Fee Committee, Admission-Committee and Government
to take appropriate decisions before the declaration of the
result of 12th standard so as to avoid the
inconvenience to the students, their parents and managements. In
the final analysis, all the decisions must be taken in the
larger interests of the society and in accordance with the norms
of AICTE and GTU.
Academicians
have been ignored while passing the GTU Act in the Assembly. It
seems that all the decisions are taken by the government
officers and Vice Chancellors appointed by the Government. It is
expected that whatsoever action is taken regarding GTU Act ought
to be with concurrence of bodies such as the Academic Council
and Board of Studies. There is no provision for any
representation of thousands of experts and principals of self
financed institutions operating under the GTU. Hence the State
Government essentially needs to make certain modifications in
this GTU Act availing guidance of experts. It is absolutely
necessary to orient all activities of higher professional
education in the entire State towards the welfare of students.
This newly established federation has made a Swarnim
educational resolution of creating Swarnim Educational
Revolution by establishing a rapport with the State Government
during this swarnim year.
[Dr. C. L. Patel is the Chairman
of Charutar Vidya Mandal, the largest Educational Trust in
Gujarat and the Chairman of the newly established Federation of
self financed technical institutions of Gujarat (proposed)]
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