Thiruvananthapuram: The suicide of an engineering student of a self-financing engineering college has triggered a debate on the quality assurance measures in such institutions enforced by the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. Akash, 19, of Kuriyathi near Manacaud, a student of Trinity Engineering College affiliated to the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday night after failing in some examinations.
University Pro-Vice-Chancellor M. Abdul Rahman told Deccan Chronicle that the attempt to link the suicide to the quality assurance scheme introduced by the university was unfortunate. Of the, 39,000 students who have completed the first and second B Tech course from colleges affiliated to the university, 2,000 students have not passed even one paper. This was even after the university reduced the number of credits needed for eligibility for registering for the third semester B Tech examinations, from 35 to 26.
However, Mohamed Shafi, an engineering student pointed out that around 7,000 students had become 'year-out' due to the lack of minimum credit needed. Moreover, the university had not honoured the assurance that three supplementary examinations would be held before the commencement of the third semester, Shafi said. Psychologist Aravind Thampi said it was high time the parents were given counselling to ensure that students are not stuck up in courses they did not have any aptitude. It is better to seek other choices if students do not have a minimum aptitude, Mr Thampi said.
