Dangerous ‘trend’ in TG private colleges: Accent on entertainment at the cost of academics

The October 17th tragic mishap during a dandiya celebration at the Maturi Venkata Subba Rao (MVSR) Engineering College in Nadergul, Rangareddy district, in which one student was killed and 14 others were injured, is emblematic of a paradigm shift in private colleges where the accent these days is more on entertainment and parties than on academic pursuits; and that too, with money being collected from students for parties, festival event charges, this and that.

In the process, private educational institutions, be it intermediate or engineering degree colleges, have turned their campuses into entertainment spots, diverting students’ minds towards enjoyment instead of academic brilliance.

Money is collected from students in the name of freshers’ parties, festival celebrations and excursions every year. Students spend between Rs.1,000 and Rs.10,000 every year, depending on their participation in such events. The amounts would be higher if the colleges organise excursions. The worst part is that even private intermediate colleges are competing with one another in conducting such events and collecting money from students.

Previously, there were not many private intermediate colleges. However, these days, private colleges can be found in every street in cities and towns, and even at mandal headquarters.

In the past, students’ organisations used to conduct freshers’ parties in colleges without collecting money. However, these days, colleges collect amounts ranging from a few hundreds to thousands of rupees and conduct events that are merely for enjoyment.

An engineering student’s father, Venkat Ramaiah, said that private educational institutions were already collecting huge amounts of money in the name of tuition and special fees. Besides, the colleges were collecting money also for sports, cultural and other events, further burdening parents. The MVSR college incident was very scary for parents of students, he observed.

Former ABVP student leader at Osmania University and present BRS MLC Dr Dasoju Sravan commented that, unfortunately the education system in Telangana has dropped ‘education orientation’ and adopted ‘entertainment orientation’. Colleges are conducting festival events and cinema-related events. Students are already getting full entertainment through mobile phones; so, where is the need for such events in colleges? What is the need to play dandiya in colleges? What is the need to celebrate bathukamma in front of the Arts College?

Osmania University should conduct an international, social science-based programme in front of the Arts College. Colleges should conduct seminars, symposiums, workshops, educational marathons, and other academic activities. However, colleges are giving priority to entertainment, instead of educational activities, Dasoju Sravan said.

Sravan said, “Chief Minister and Education Minister A Revanth Reddy, who reacted strongly to the Sandhya Theatre incident involving film actor Allu Arjun in the Assembly, has not yet reacted in the same manner to the death and injuries to students during an event at a private college. What are the Higher Education Council and the universities concerned doing? Unfortunately, students’ unions have become completely ineffective, as they are confined to collections only.”

Former NSUI leader at Osmania University, Venkateshwar Reddy Chalamalla, said that all students’ unions have become weak these days and are not conducting ‘thoughtful’ educational events in colleges and universities. As a result, private colleges are ruling the roost. New trends have emerged in educational institutions. He alleged that the present leaders of students’ unions are content with the 'mamools' given by college managements.

Osmania University alumnus Rudra Reddy Regatte said that private colleges were competing with one another in conducting festival events, including Ganesh Festival, Bonalu, Bathukamma, Dandiya and other celebrations, while educational events are taking a back seat. Colleges are making students fall into a sort of ‘mania’, he alleged, adding that this culture had resulted in students not responding to any issue in the state.

Subbaiah, father of an engineering student, said that private colleges should realise the seriousness of the MVSR college incident. “Intermediate and engineering colleges should concentrate on education rather than entertainment from now onwards,” he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty

Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty