KOLLAM: The private and aided colleges are making hay while the sun shines. The donations/capitation fees for admissions in arts and science colleges have shot up with a number of students opting out of engineering courses owing to the low pass percentage and less job placements.
The donation in Kollam colleges is between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.2 lakh based on the course and the reputation. “I approached a well-known college in the city for admission in chemistry for my niece. The management demanded Rs 1.20 lakh which was finally reduced to Rs 90,000,” a parent told DC. The capitation fee for B.Com course is Rs 80,000 owing to the less number of colleges in the district offering the course. The college management also refuses to give acknowledgement slips for the money given.
There are fewer seats in the colleges offering arts and science courses. “The number of engineering colleges has doubled and tripled in the past several years whereas the number of colleges offering other academic courses still remains the same,” a parent said. This has apparently led to a competition among the parents to secure seats. Most of the colleges run by various communities allot seats for their members. Horse-trading is prevalent in the case of NRI seats in reputed engineering colleges too.
