Updated on: Friday, October 22, 2010
Swallow this: not a single student applied for admission in 125 degree colleges under Bangalore University for the academic year 2010-11.
Most of the 125 colleges are located in and around Bangalore city. Some are in Chickballapur and Kolar districts.
In all, there are 540 colleges under Bangalore University (excluding 138 B.Ed. colleges).
Besides the student-less 125, records show that 30 colleges have admitted exactly one student each. In 45 colleges there are fewer than 15 students each. And, 135 colleges have admitted 50 students each.
The admissions have been abysmal in these colleges irrespective of the courses they offer.
Incidentally, the total number of students admitted in all the colleges affiliated to the university is 64,000 for the academic year 2010-11.
Why affiliation?
Interestingly, these 125 colleges have been renewing their affiliation by paying a fee and they even advertised courses available for admission. What has amused university officials is that some of these colleges have continued with their affiliation despite no students in the last couple of years.
The University administration is now verifying student admission details of these colleges over the last several years to ascertain how long they have been in existence and whether students have ever joined thee colleges.
‘Probe needed'
Are these affiliated colleges receiving funds from the Government despite not having any students? “Only an inquiry will throw light on this issue,” said a University official.
Records also indicate that some colleges, which are associated with deemed universities, continue to be affiliated but don't send admission details to Bangalore University.
Among the 138 affiliated B. Ed colleges, no student has been admitted in 26 colleges. Admissions in the remaining 112 colleges for academic year 2010-11 are yet to begin.
According to officials, what the statistics imply is that though the number of colleges affiliated to Bangalore university on paper is around 600, only around 350 are actually functioning.
Vice-Chancellor N. Prabhu Dev said that it was an alarming situation requiring serious attention.