The Hindu : Kerala News : NRIs find admission policy for colleges troublesome

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 20, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

NRIs find admission policy for colleges troublesome

Vimala Vasan

Letter frOm theGulf Non-Resident Indians view the Government decision to restore 15 per cent NRI quota in self-financing professional colleges as a chance for these institutions to make undue demands in the name of donations.

ABU DHABI: Gulf NRIs seeking admission for their children in higher educational institutions in Kerala are facing a host of problems due to erratic and untimely admission policies, exploitative fees and delays in finalising seats.

Senior community school officials here are urging the authorities in Kerala to streamline and quicken admission procedures as NRI children and their parents are put to lot of stress prior to the start of the college academic year.

The recent decision of the Kerala Government to restore 15 per cent NRI quota in self-financing professional colleges is also being viewed by NRIs as a chance for private institutions to enhance fees and make undue demands in the name of donations. Moreover, the decision can be implemented only after an ordinance is issued and this could pose delays in admission this year.

A.K. Moosa, Principal, Indian Islahi Islamic School in Abu Dhabi, where a majority of the students hail from Kerala, told The Hindu that the decision does not specify if NRI students will also be eligible to apply under the general quota on merit basis. ``Restricting their admission to the NRI quota will place them under pressure from exploitative college managements who are demanding fees and donations far in excess of what many NRIs here can afford,'' he said. Most Gulf NRIs fall in the middle and low income category. This coupled with the insecurity of jobs in the Gulf make them unsure if they can finance their wards for periods of five years or more in colleges where the fees are exorbitant, he said.

Mr. Moosa said that in almost all countries, citizens are provided college education with the same fee structure, irrespective of whether they are expats or residents. ``Why is it only NRIs are forced to pay more in India when they are citizens?'' he asked. According to K.N.N. Pillai, Principal, Sharjah Indian School, NRI parents are under tremendous stress during this time of the year, as they have to ensure admission in colleges during the short holiday they get from their place of work. ``Every year, counselling and admissions are delayed. This year, there is a dispute over entrance tests by self-financing colleges, which is delaying admission formalities. By the time issues are sorted out, colleges in other States are well into their first term. Frustrated parents are, therefore, compelled on many occasions to shift their children to neighbouring States,'' he said.

Mr. Pillai suggested that policies regarding academic institutions should not be taken on an adhoc basis just a few weeks prior to admission in order to avoid unnecessary delays. ``There has to be long-term vision and planning and academic rulings have to be taken one year in advance so that admission formalities are completed in time for the new academic year,'' he said.

Meanwhile, there appears to be a silver lining at least for NRI students seeking admission from 2006 onwards, as the Indian Government has taken a decision recently to enforce an NRI quota in higher educational institutions (except medical colleges) for students from Gulf and South East Asia, with fees being on par with resident Indian students, according to a report in an Indian newspaper. NRIs here have welcomed the decision, but have called for clear-cut information on admission criteria and quotas to be allocated for students from the Gulf.

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