Hyderabad, August 09: Engineering colleges which have come up in the last two academic years are now under the scanner. A three-member task force has been constituted by the higher education department to inspect just what their facilities are like.
The inspections have been ordered by chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy following reports of AICTE approval to colleges without basic infrastructure.
The task force will include an official from a university from outside the state, a senior engineering professional and a representative from the higher education department.
“The task force will be in place in a months’ time and inspections will commence after that. Colleges which do not comply with the AICTE rules will be disaffiliated,” MD Christopher, secretary, AP State Council of Higher
Education (APSCHE) told TOI. He said that over 300 colleges will have to be inspected. Meanwhile, at the ‘Awareness programme on AICTE approval’ organised by JNTU Hyderabad and AICTE, New Delhi it was decided that the AICTE will now enforce stricter norms for approval of colleges. “Colleges can be disaffiliated by the universities if they are found not to comply with the AICTE even after inspection,” said Dr S S Mantha, chairman, National Board of Accreditation. He said that colleges will have to submit their audits if they are to increase the engineering fee.
Responding to queries about alleged corruption charges against AICTE officials, Mantha said, “Investigation in the matter is going on and necessary action will be taken.’’
–Agencies–