In a decisive step against subpar educational institutions, Karnataka’s Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Sharan Prakash Patil, has instructed officials to revoke affiliations and shut down para-medical colleges that fail to meet required infrastructure and teaching standards. This move comes after a review meeting held at Vikasa Soudha on Thursday, where alarming deficiencies were revealed in several private colleges.
During the meeting, officials reported concerning issues such as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate facilities, and poor infrastructure. In one case, a college had just one microscope for hundreds of students, while another institution lacked proper lighting. Minister Patil pointed out that many private colleges misrepresent their quality during the approval process but fail to provide adequate education, despite charging exorbitant fees.
Out of the 566 para-medical colleges in the state, 529 are privately run, enrolling 22,256 students for the 2024-25 academic year. These private colleges charge an annual fee of ₹20,000 for a three-year course, in contrast to the ₹8,500 charged by government institutions. Inspections also uncovered that over ten colleges had illegally transferred students without the approval of the para-medical board. Many institutions were also found lacking in essential teaching and training for the courses they offered.
Minister Patil emphasized, “Close down such colleges without any hesitation. We must send a strong message to these institutions.” He assured that students affected by the shutdowns would be transferred to better institutions to continue their education.
The para-medical courses in Karnataka, such as Medical Laboratory Technology, Health Inspector, and Dialysis Technology, prepare students for roles in hospitals, clinics, and health centers at the district and taluk levels. This crackdown aims to maintain high educational standards and ensure that students receive the proper training needed for successful careers in healthcare.
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