Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Jun 7: MLA U T Khader alleged that the ‘tuition mafia’ is controlling the entire education system of the state. Addressing a press conference held at district Congress office here on Wednesday June 6, he said that polytechnic students who opt for engineering courses through direct entry without any exams are put in confusion without specification of the exam date by Karnataka Examination Authority.
“However, coaching classes have been going on unabated in various parts of the state including Mangalore and Bangalore,” he alleged.
“As about 40 percent of diploma holders join engineering courses through direct entry, according to the admission procedures of AICTE, the state admission authority shall invite applications for lateral entry category and make a separate merit list for the category. With this, it is clear that Karnataka Examination Authority too has agreed to admit students based on their diploma marks through direct entry,” he said and added that the ‘coaching mafia’ is pressurizing the authorities to conduct exams as coaching classes are carried out. Khader added that the fee charged by such coaching classes is also high.
He alleged that the students’ unions which raise their voice against ‘unrelated’ issues are now silent. In a letter addressed to chief minister (CM) D V Sadananda Gowda, Khader urged him not to bend to the coaching mafia lobby. Khader also rued that the state government does not have clear cut rule on implementing educational schemes, as in other states RTE is implemented without lapse, such is not the situation in the state.
Speaking on the issue of sea erosion in Ullal region, Khader said that the state government has only promised projects in its budgets for the last two years but nothing has been done so far. “A tender has been called to implement a new technology to stop sea erosion, and Saturday June 23 is the last date as a first phase work worth Rs 25 cr will begin soon,” he said.
Answering a query about sea erosion, Khader maintained that work cannot be conducted prior to the actual problem taking place as the place of sea erosion cannot be predicted. He further said that revenue secretary Amarnarayan who is also the in-charge of disaster management will visit the affected areas tomorrow.