Several unapproved educational institutes have mushroomed across the city, cashing in on the demand for seats in professional courses ahead of the new academic session.
Several institutes, calling themselves “B-schools”, have been set up here without approval from either the AICTE or the state government.
According to information, authorities at these institutions are luring students with offers of free laptops, and charging exorbitant fees — often up to `2 lakh for management courses. The state government’s prescribed fee for management courses in regular mode at institutions approved by the AICTE and university is Rs27,000 per annum.
But these institutes are openly flouting norms by issuing admission notifications with unusual course combinations, with some admitting students who have not cleared Class XII.
One such institution is Gandikota Business School, Secunderabad. It has been placed on the “blacklist” by the AICTE. The institution, it is learnt, is admitting students for four-year BBM/BBA+MBA course, with annual fees of up to Rs50,000. Students, though, have no clue whether it is an approved course or not. Students who asked were told that it is a course offered by Kakatiya University, Warangal, in distance education mode.
While the institute was given approval for only one such centre in the city, it has opened branches in six other locations. Incident-ally, OU offers BBM course in regular mode for Rs25,000 per annum.
Warning students against taking admissions in such institutes, AP State Council of Higher Education officials said certificates issued by them hold no value and will not be considered for recruitment exams or promotions.