Unfilled seats force 70 biz schools to opt for closure

Plagued with the problem of vacant seats, a total of 70 management institutes from across the country have applied for closure, Vanita Srivastava reports.

Plagued with the problem of vacant seats, a total of 70 management institutes from across the country have applied for closure.

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On the other hand, 80 have applied for opening new management colleges during the 2013-2014 period.

“It is a fact that the number of colleges applying for closure has increased. But at the same time, there is a fresh demand for opening of new colleges. This clearly reflects that the rate of enrollment is going up,” says All India Council for Technical Education chairman SS Mantha. The online applications for opening of new colleges and closure of old colleges for 2013-2014 will end on Sunday.

"We have so far received 170 applications from educational institutions for closure. This includes 70 management institutes. Of this, there is a possibility that 50% would be closed," Mantha said.

Besides, he said that the AICTE had received 581 applications till Friday for opening of new colleges. These included 240 polytechnics, 180 undergraduate colleges and 80 management institutes.

"Even among the fresh applications, there is a probability of 40-50% being given permission for opening," Mantha said.

"Majority of the institutes which had applied for closure say they are not able to get students. Most of them are located in remote areas, possess poor infrastructure facilities, and have practically zero interaction with industries," Mantha added.

Last year, of the 138 colleges that had applied for closure, 65 were management institutes. In the same period, the council had received 669 applications for opening new colleges.

“The number of colleges applying for closure has increased by nearly four times, but still I would say it is not alarming since the number of colleges applying for opening new colleges has also increased,” Mantha added.