Management says no to aided courses

The management of Kongunadu Arts and Science College has announced an indefinite closure of aided courses for the second and third year students, even as the protest by students entered the second day on Thursday.

Those staying in the hostel have been asked to vacate.

The courses

Secretary and Director of the college M. Aruchami told reporters here that aided courses of computer science, botany, zoology, bio-chemistry, physics, English, chemistry, and mathematics departments would be closed indefinitely.

“There are some anti-social elements who are misguiding students. The Government has not released the non-salary grant for 15 years. This grant covers the payment of electricity, building maintenance, and other purposes that do not fall under salary,” Mr. Aruchami said.

Listing out the various expenses the college incurred, he said that for footing these bill and for appointing 14 faculty for the aided courses, it was quite impossible without Government support. Since the Government was not giving heed to his repeated requests for release of non-salary grant and appointment of faculty members, he wanted the parents to share 50 per cent of the expenses.

“We do not collect donations. We are also not allowed to collect more than the stipulated university fee structure for aided courses. Hence, we have to request the parents to pay the excess fee through the Parents' Council / Association,” he said.

The management had called for a parents' meeting on July 31. The excess fee varied from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 8,000 a year.

Earlier in the day, nearly 200 students submitted a memorandum at the office of the Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education.