Diploma holders fooled by CET coaching institutes

Diploma holders fooled by CET coaching institutes

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 30, 2012 : Institutes in Mangalore are fooling a large number of diploma holders who want to join engineering courses by offering them coaching for an entrance test that might never be conducted.

Gullible diploma holders from distant places such as Dharwad, Hubli, Raichur, Bellary, and Bagalkot are paying these institutes fees as high as Rs. 3,500 to get coching for the Common Entrance Test (CET) without first finding out if the CET will be held for diploma students.

Even the authorities concerned are least bothered about the plight of these students who travel long distances and spend a lot of money on fees, food, and accommodation just to get good CET coaching. In the meantime, the errant institutes print brochures and pamphlets and distribute them in public places.

According to a guideline issued by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for 2012 – 13, the CET might not be conducted for diploma holders this year, unlike the past few years. Siddaiah, principal secretary of the higher education department, said that the department has not announced any CET for diploma holders this year. Rashmi V. Mahesh, executive director of Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), said that diploma holders may be selected to engineering courses on the basis of marks secured in their course.

A lecturer in Mangalore said that institutes conducted CET coaching classes are well aware that there may be no CET for diploma holders this year, in spite which they continue receiving fees from diploma holders to help them get an engineering seat. Several students from North Karnataka join these courses with the hopes of clearing their CET and getting a seat.

Karnataka has over 300 polytechnics, each having as many as 150- 400 students. Since nearly 40 percent of these students opt for engineering courses through lateral entry and most of them join CET coaching classes, these coaching centres make lakhs of rupees in just one month, he said.