Telangana private degree colleges announce indefinite bandh, boycott exams over fee reimbursement dues

The association lamented the fee reimbursement arrears were not released for the last two academic years and stated that higher education has completely been neglected by the Congress government

Hyderabad: Protesting against delays in releasing fee reimbursement arrears by the Congress government, the Telangana State Private Degree and PG Colleges Management Association have decided to boycott degree all semester examinations besides announcing indefinite closure of institutions starting Tuesday.

The association lamented the fee reimbursement arrears were not released for the last two academic years and stated that higher education has completely been neglected by the Congress government.

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Association president Dr. B Suryanarayana Reddy and general secretary Yada Ramakrishna said despite repeated attempts to meet Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, there has been no response or acknowledgement on the fee reimbursement arrears issue. Although the issue was raised with the ministers and officials concerned, it remained unresolved.

As arrears have not been released for the two academic years, 90 per cent of the colleges were not able to pay faculty salaries or rent for their premises over the past four to five months, they said. Due to the mounting interest on loans and unable to secure new credit, running colleges had become a herculean task for the managements.

Earlier, the managements closed the institutions from October 14 citing inability to meet operational costs as pending fee dues were not released.

However, on the fourth day of the college’s closure, Principal Secretary to Government (Education) Burra Venkatesham on behalf of the Chief Minister had assured to clear the fee dues within a week, Reddy said. However, even after one month, the dues were not released.

“Given the situation, degree colleges affiliated to different universities will shut from November 19. They will be reopened only after receiving their fee reimbursement dues. Also, the colleges will not be holding degree semester exams,” Reddy added.