Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest here on Friday opposing the State government’s decision to implement the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006 (Act No. 8 of 2006) from the academic year 2015-16.
The protest in front of the Karnataka Polytechnic Junction here was part of ABVP’s State-wide protest against the government on Friday. They blocked the National Highway 66 at KPT Junction for some time as a mark of protest.
In a release issued on the occasion, T.S. Sunil Prasad, State secretary, ABVP, said that if the government implemented the Act there would be no government quota seats in professional colleges. This would deprive meritorious poor students of getting admission in prestigious educational institutions.
There would be a uniform fee structure for admission to professional courses in educational institutions in the State, which was not feasible and was unscientific. All students in the State would not be able to pay uniform fee, he said.
Multiple testsHe alleged that implementing the Act would only help private educational institutions. Students, instead of appearing for a common entrance test (CET), would have to appear for three tests, which would include one test conducted by the government, one by the religious minority and linguistic minority institutions, and one by other educational institutions. They would have to attend three counselling sessions.
Mr. Prasad said the Act had not mentioned anything about admissions to colleges coming under deemed universities. He said the ABVP wanted the present system of admission to continue. The government should reserve cent per cent seats in government professional colleges to poor and rural students. In addition, 85 per cent seats in government-aided private colleges, and 50 per cent seats in private, minority and deemed university colleges should be reserved for rural and poor students.
Joint Secretary of the city unit Hitesh Bekal, and member of State executive committee of the ABVP Sudeep Shetty spoke on the occasion.
In Udupi, the dharna was held by the ABVP in front of the Clock Tower on Friday. Addressing the protesters, D.S. Subrahmanya, district organising secretary of ABVP, said poor and talented students would be hit hard by the Act. It called on the government to announce a permanent policy to provide reservation, admission, regulations and fees, which should favour the poor, talented, rural students. In order to increase the number of government seats, the government should immediately open 15 medical colleges, Mr. Subramanya said.
