Around 122 private engineering colleges have opted for “progressive closure” since last year and most of these colleges are in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana. Fifteen engineering colleges in Gujarat, seven in Telangana, 11 in Karnataka, 12 in Uttar Pradesh, six in Punjab, 11 in Rajasthan and 13 in Haryana closed down during the period.
What is progressive closure?
If a college goes for “progressive closure” in an academic year, it means the institution cannot admit students anymore. However, the students of the previous batches can continue their studies till the completion of their courses. According to statistics available with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the country’s technical education regulator, 23 engineering colleges in Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Jalgaon and Kohlapur and other areas of Maharashtra closed down during the 2016-17 session.
Reason behind the shut down
A senior AICTE official said, “Failing to survive, private engineering colleges either seek progressive closure to ultimately shut down or turn into polytechnic or science and art colleges. Since the best lot of students takes admission in prestigious colleges like IITs, NITs and other centrally funded institutions, the others left in the fray settle for private colleges. The low number of enrolments makes it difficult for institutions to survive.”
List of colleges shutting down all India:
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Date: May 2, 2017
Source: Indiatoday & India.com