The results of School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations published few weeks ago, opening the door for higher education for a large number of students. Daily newspapers are filled with colorful and eye-catchy college advertisements. Students are confused about choosing the best college. Going through almost all the advertisements and word of mouth promotion by friends and relatives, an SLC graduate finds it tough to get admitted in the right college.
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Moreover, it is not only the students’ sole choice but parents; best friends and financial status also determine things. Because of it, a SLC graduate has to appear for entrance examinations in different colleges in hope of getting admitted in the most suitable one, fitting all criteria or standards.
An SLC graduate usually belongs to the mid-teen age category. Parents face difficulties in paving the right way for their children in this tender age. Teens are easily influenced by glittering advertisements and force their parents to have them admitted in expensive colleges. The upper-class can afford to send their children to expensive colleges affiliated with foreign universities, with the aim to let them have the best education before sending them abroad. The lower class parents try to adjust their child to nearby or government colleges through scholarships as they are focused only in gaining education by any means.
The middle class parents, who neither can afford the top expensive colleges nor allow their child to study in normal colleges in general environment, have a hard time choosing right college for their children. That is why they decide to inquire almost all good colleges on basis of vibrant advertisements published in newspapers.
Middle class parents find different colleges advertizing their professors and lecturers with their names and photos. These lecturers are said to be the best. The college is said to have well-furnished computer and practical labs and good library. The college building is no less than a corporate tower located at the major location of the city. Not only this, the college also has a roof-top restaurant with best interior and hygienic food.
Learning about these basic standards, recently one couple in Kathmandu chose the best college among all for their child. Their daughter appeared in the entrance examination and became eligible for admission. Now, the real story began for parents as they got a call from the college to appear in the interview. Yes, interview of parents rather than of the child to be admitted in Grade 11.
The interviewers started throwing questions to parents, who work in private offices. They inquired about the occupation of the father and the mother, their monthly salary, other income sources, family structure, future education planning of their child and many more. With the regular throw of questions invading their personal and family life, the parents not only felt humiliated but also felt it an assault on their class and profession. It was as if they had no right to admit their child in good colleges. This is not a sole incident of a family as many parents have to face similar embarrassing and humiliating situations in private colleges of Kathmandu these days.
Once parents decide a college for their children, a debate over fees and payment structure ensues since reality is different than luring advertisements. The same college asked the hapless parents mentioned above to pay Rs 45,000 as first installment within the first month of admissions. Upon their inquiry over the big amount, the college said it was the annual fee as well as the monthly fees covering three months. Though the monthly fee was Rs 3,500 the college was taking remaining big amount as annual fee, replacing the term admission fee.
Moreover, the price continues to go up as there are fees for dress, stationeries, lab use, practical exams, field visits and many more. Parents are ready to part with their hard-earned money for the bright future of their children but definitely don’t want to waste the money in unnecessary headings. The college charges Rs 18,000 annually as transportation fees for a student whose home is just eight kilometers away from the college. If s/he travels in public vehicle, the cost will be around Rs 1,000 monthly. Similarly, the college charges Rs 8,000 for student dress, though the dress can be prepared in Rs 5,000 by tailors. It is clear that the college wants to make quick bucks from transportation, dress and many other headings.
These are just few examples of loots. They are many other headings under which the college charges students. However, when the students get admitted in the college they find reality and attractive features mentioned in ads to be vastly different. From infrastructures to labs and teaching system, nothing is as promised.
Professors and lecturers whose names and photos were published in newspapers are often actually only the visiting faculty who take classes once a while.
This begs the question: Are private colleges here only to make money or to provide quality education? No doubt, education is a huge investment for the bright future of children and parents are always ready to invest on better and quality education. They choose expensive private colleges instead of government colleges for the academic excellence, not just because they have money and need places to spend. Many students blindly believe in advertisements only to realize the bitter truth later.
Education should not be made a business venture. Colleges should not play with the sentiments of students and parents. Private colleges must be dedicated for the quality education system and bright future of thousands of students. They should maintain their standard as quality education providers, not as money-grabbing bandits.
Published on Republica, 2014-07-16
http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=79046
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