File photo used for representational purpose

NEW DELHI: Over 300 private engineering colleges would be asked to stop operations from the 2018-19 academic session. These institutions would be asked not to undertake admission process for any fresh batch as they had less than 30% enrolment for five consecutive years.

According to a senior HRD official, another 500 engineering colleges are under the scanner for not being able to fill up seats.

The All India Council for Technical Education has asked all such colleges to consider alternate options like converting to science colleges or vocational education institutions. As per AICTE website, there are close to 3,000 private engineering colleges offering undergraduate courses in India, with an intake capacity of 13.56 lakh. Of these, there are around 800 engineering colleges whose enrolment percentage is less than 50%.

According to HRD sources, of the over 300 institutions which would be asked to close operations as engineering colleges, over 150 have less than 20% enrolment.

According to the chairperson of the AICTE, the council has asked those colleges with less than 30% enrolment to work out alternate options. Stating that closing down the institutions could also lead to problems for the institutions, professor Anil D Sahasrabudhe , chairperson, AICTE said, “We are deliberating on the issue. Closure is an easy option, but that could also lead to many complications as they have invested money, have bank loans. Taking a holistic view, those institutions which are border line cases may not be asked to close down but they will be asked to choose alternate options on their own.”

The Council would give options like converting the engineering colleges to science colleges, skill development centres or vocational education institutions. The matter will be finalised by end of December 2017. before the approvals are issued to the colleges.

Sahasrabudhe said it is in the interest of the institutions to convert into other type of institutes, as over time their admissions have suffered because they were not performing well.

