KHAMMAM: First it was the government schools that showed a sharp decline in the enrolment of students, now it is the turn of government colleges that is showing a fall in the number of enrolments.
The lecturers working in these Government Degree Colleges are fearing the closure of their colleges.
It was decided by the government to close schools that had less than 20 students. About 273 primary and upper primary schools in Khammam and Bhadradri districts will be closed as they are not fulfilling the norms of Right to Education Act.
Many of the lecturers and students are fearing that the government will toe the same line with the degree colleges.
There are 5,700 seats in 10 degree colleges in Khammam and Bhadradri-Paloncha districts.
After three phases of admissions, only 2,010 seats have been filled up.
Only one college SR and BGNR Degree College has had a decent number of enrolments with 1,082 students applying for various courses against the capacity of 1,500 seats.
The degree college in Nelakondapalli witnessed the worst response.
Only 20 students came forward to join the degree college against the 420 seats available.
Nelakondapalli college stood last in student enrolment this academic year. The degree colleges in Garla and Madhira failed to draw the attention of the students. A dismal total of 45 students showed interest to join degree courses in these two colleges.
N. Sumanth, a degree student in Khammam said, “There is not enough faculty in many of the government degree colleges. As students, we will not spoil our future as we will not learn anything in the classrooms.”
Many of the students enrol their names in the government degree colleges in Hyderabad, choosing science courses.
The Degree Online Services of Telangana (DOST) has made it easy for them to get seats in Hyderabad colleges.
The hostel facilities in Hyderabad is also another reason for the students of opting for colleges there.
The degree colleges in Manuguru, Yellandu, Kothagudem and Paloncha failed to attract even 25 per cent of students against its capacity of 420 seats each.
The condition of autonomous degree colleges is somewhat better than the government degree colleges.
