Kollam: The students of Travancore Engineering college in Oyoor here are in dire straits with over 30 teachers threatening to resign because of salary dues owed by the management. The students have been on protest for the last few weeks demanding steps to ensure their continued education. Meanwhile, the Kerala Technical University (KTU) has issued an order that second and fourth semester students can take a transfer to vacant seats in other institutions.
“The issue started with the teachers taking mass leave after the management failed to pay them salaries for the last six months. The management also informed the KTU that it could not go ahead with the college because of huge financial losses. The students, majority of them depending on educational loans and other debts, are in a dilemma as there is no consensus on the fee pattern if they take a transfer to other colleges,” said S.R. Gokul Nath, second year Electrical Engineering student.
The students, even if they opt for transfer to other colleges, will have to pay admission fees and semester fees as demanded by the new institution. The students have already paid a year’s fee in advance at the Travancore College. The college management is also not concerned about returning the advance fee collected, it is alleged. The students of First and Second year are under KTU while those of Third and Fourth year are under the Kerala University. The students under KTU also face the threat of semester back policy – that one should reappear in a semester if all the papers are not cleared.
This has led to only 98 students out of a total of 295 students appearing for the second semester examinations to continue for the third semester at this college. There are only 38 students in five branches in the first year, which has made it impossible for the management to go ahead with the college. The students have also filed complaints with the Justice Rajendrababu commission for an amicable settlement of the fee if they opt for a transfer to other colleges.
