300 private engineering colleges may be asked to shut down
What's the story
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) might ask over 300 private engineering colleges to halt operations from the 2018-19 academic year.
The decision would come because these colleges secured less than 30% enrolment over the past five years, the Times of India has reported.
A senior HRD ministry official said another 500 engineering institutions are facing scrutiny for not filling up seats.
Worrying scenario
Less than 20% seats filled in 150 colleges
There are nearly 3,000 private engineering colleges with a total intake capacity of 13.6 lakh students in India that offer undergraduate courses, according to the AICTE website.
Of these around 800 colleges have enrolment rates less than 50%.
Of the 300 colleges which have reportedly been asked to close operations, 150 have enrolment rates below 20%.
Alternate options
Institutions can consider alternate options, convert to science colleges
"We are deliberating on the issue" of closing colleges having less than 30% enrolment, said AICTE chairperson, Anil D Sahasrabudhe.
He said colleges which are "border line cases" would be given the chance viable alternatives "as they have invested money, taken bank loans."
Alternatives include converting to science colleges, skill development centres or vocational education institutions.