The amplified voices on the volume of tuition fees collected by private engineering colleges must be heard and analysed seriously by discerning people and the general public. That college managements in AP are a ruthless and fleecing lot is what some of the hasty observers want society to believe. The truth, however, is otherwise. The issue needs to be put in the right perspective and examined after considering ground realities.

The quality of education in these colleges has always been a point of discussion and the government seems to be highly apprehensive about it. Interestingly, the AICTE monitors every aspect including infrastructure, faculty and even the campus environment. Over the years the managements have realised that focusing on quality is vital for their survival in the increasingly competitive higher technical education. There is no logic in the criticism that these colleges only want to make money and that quality is not on their agenda.

Contrary to the misplaced opinion among a large section of people, the managements of private engineering colleges and other technical institutions have been responsible for the creation of a formidable force of skilled engineers. In fact, all this was accomplished by dedicated private managements with the help of an equally committed class of efficient teachers. There is precious little both the Central and the state governments did to help these colleges. The role of AICTE, UGC and Universities was limited to issuing licenses and granting affiliations. There was absolutely no financial assistance from the governments.

Most of the privileged class, educated at premier technical institutions like IITs/NITs/ Central Universities, established and completely funded by the Government of India with the money from taxpayers, flew to the US and Europe at will to make lucrative careers. So, where are the hundreds of thousands of engineers and technocrats working in Indian industries, construction projects and the information technology sector coming from? It is clear that the country is now on an upswing due to the efforts of the private engineering colleges.

The maligning campaign by some self-appointed saviours of society is, thus, ridiculous and harmful to the interests of the student community.

It is only after the state government’s policy of reimbursement of tuition fees was introduced, that the gates of engineering colleges were thrown wide open to the deprived classes. The talk of “fleecing”, “greedy” private managements is creating doubts in the minds of the public. If the government is spending money, it is to fulfil its commitment to the people and to prove its political will and by doing so it has raised the expectations of a large section of the people subjected to social injustice over centuries. If the state government fails, it is certainly not because of the managements of the colleges.

The managements are put under tremendous pressure due to the inabilities of the government. Far from what the government believes, most of the managements are struggling and barely managing a hand-to-mouth survival. It is high time that they have the freedom to think and formulate a reasonable fee structure.

The panoramic picture of about 700 private engineering colleges spread across AP with an estimated worth of Rs 20,000 crore may look rosy, but it has already started collapsing from within. The bells are tolling loud enough. The present fee structure is not enough for them to survive and many of them may not be able to stay afloat.

P. Rajeshwar Reddy is secretary, Consortium of Engineering Colleges Managements Associations of AP (CECMA) and Anurag Group of Institutions and