College managements flay student admissions by unrecognised institutions through ‘misleading’ online advertisements

The Association of Self-Financing Arts, Science and Management Colleges of Tamil Nadu has called upon the State government to impose curbs on advertisements by unrecognised higher educational institutions in social media platforms that prompts students into believing that degree programmes could be completed without exertion.

Such advertisements promising acquisition of degrees in short durations without appearing for exams, has caused consternation among colleges across the State, association secretary T. Sethupati said in a representation to the State government.

Acknowledging the power of social media, Mr. Sethupati said that due to these advertisements, economically disadvantaged students and parents who do not have a complete understanding of higher education readily join educational institutions without verifying their recognition and legal eligibility.

The association questioned how educational institutions that have not obtained recognition from the State government could advertise about their unrecognised courses through the social media platforms.

The trend, if not curbed, will negate the outcome of the sustained efforts of the Higher Educational Department to make Tamil Nadu a leading destination for higher education in the country.

The ‘misleading advertisements’ will dilute the Higher Education Department’s endeavour to scale up NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings through thrust on research, autonomy, quality education, competent faculty and regulatory mechanisms, the association cautioned.

Appreciating the concern of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and the Higher Education Minister’s interactions with functionaries of the managements of educational institutions, and the welfare schemes for teachers and students, educational scholarships and skill-development programmes, Mr. Sethupati said that higher educational institutions conforming to legal framework, all the same, were keen on safeguarding the students from taking up courses in unrecognised institutions.

As a responsible stake-holder for safeguarding credibility of higher education, the association expects the Higher Education Department to take measures to prevent circulation of the ‘misleading’ advertisements on social media platforms and to initiate action against educational institutions functioning without the requisite recognition.