Couple of months back, we really tried hard to bring an anti-corruption moment (Jan-Lok Pal) to show our dislike towards corruption. Many of us went on a fast to support this moment. But did we achieve something?
It's indeed sad to note that the corruption in India still prevails and is expanding to such an extent that many educational institutes are running a multi-national business rather than providing a quality education to the students. Money is being looted in every possible forms right from the inception till the completion of a course.
I am a BE pass-out from a recognized institute in Marathahalli , Bangalore. Our college life turned out to be disastrous as we had to pay huge fines every semester for different issues like attendance shortage, library dues, improper uniform, Lab breakage fees, fines for not attending the test/internal assessment exams(no matter even if the reason is genuine) etc. The best thing to mention about this college is they collect money even while giving a transfer certificate or rather to recommend their own students (letter of Recommendation) for the higher proceedings. We had to pay 25% of our salary to the management when we got placed through campus placements. Unlike others, we didn't feel nostalgic to leave this institute. We rather felt happy for the independence we had achieved after 4 years of struggle.
After few months, I realized that this is not case that is happening only in our college, but everywhere. The educational standards in India are defoliating every year because of this factor.
My friend studies in one of the renowned institute in Kumaraswamy layout, Bangalore. She had fallen in short of attendance last semester due to health related issues. She was denied of the hall ticket at first due to the very same reason. Her parents met the principal of the institute to construe the reason why she couldn't attend the classes. They were ill-treated by the institute management staffs and were asked to take the transfer-certificate. Parents feared that she would lose an year because of a very simple reason, so they were ready to pay anything to regain her position. But the principal refuted at once and did not agree with the point made by the parents.
Few days later, she was called by the management staffs and was instructed to purchase Computer accessories, so that she would get her hall-ticket. To mention, they were too particular about the brand of the commodity which was not easily affordable. She couldn't complain or rather go to the consumer forum because of the fact that she would lose her seat in that college. This is the main reason why students are reluctant to bring this issue to the media. The institutes are making use of their weak point and are minting money out of it. They don’t issue an invoice or bills in any form to serve as a proof to help the students.
Well, I have always had this question in mind, i.e. by collecting huge fines are they trying to punish us or our parents? The fine amount usually varies from Rs1000-10,000/- depending upon the students background. (I believe that this is one of the reasons why the institutes ask for parents annual income). They do not want the parents to involve themselves in this issue and they would just give away the TC to the students or file him/her under the drug-abuse case if questioned.
It's high time that something should be done about it sooner or later, at least to maintain the educational standards.
