Unaided colleges seek bailout

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 7

The Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) has urged the state government to solve the problems being faced by such colleges.

More than 50 per cent seats in unaided colleges are vacant. The colleges are facing a financial crunch due to the non-payment of scholarship funds meant for SC/ST/OBC students. Many of the unaided colleges are on the verge of closure, the association stated.

Moreover, the government-run universities have asked the private colleges/polytechnics to pay the admission processing fee (counselling fee) for SC/ST/OBC students, without which they would not be enrolled in the 2016-17 batch, the association added.

During a meeting of the PUCA, chaired by its president Anshu Kataria, it was decided to involve other associations, including the Association of Polytechnic Colleges of Punjab, the Federation of Self-Financed B.Ed Colleges of Punjab and the Punjab Degree Colleges Association.