Ranga Reddy: Sai Teja college ‘pockets’ scholarships of SC/ST students

Hyderabad: Sai Teja Junior and Degree College in Gundlapochampally municipality in Ranga Reddy district has been accused of engaging in dubious practices targeting poor families.

The institution focused on families from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Backward Classes (BC), and minority communities, particularly those eligible for government scholarships due to their financial status.

Counsellors from Sai Teja College would visit these communities, promising a quality education and a secure future for a fee of Rs 14,000-16,000 per annum for Intermediate courses. These promises often convince parents and students to enrol, hoping for a better education than what government colleges offer.

Once enrolled, students and their families would face unexpected financial burdens.

The college would open bank accounts in the students’ names to receive the government scholarship amounts of Rs 5,000 per year. However, these funds are withdrawn by the college without the students’ knowledge, as the students do not have access to their accounts.

In addition to the tuition fee, the college charges exam fees of Rs 1,100 for the first year and Rs 1,700 for the second year.

Hidden costs

Students are also required to pay Rs 600 annually for mandatory freshers and farewell parties, regardless of attendance. This added to the financial strain, making the total cost for the two-year Intermediate course Rs 40,000, including the scholarship amounts taken by the college.

Questionable quality of education

Despite the high costs, the quality of education provided by Sai Teja College is subpar.

Most lecturers are hired on a contract basis and frequently miss classes. The syllabus is often rushed through in the last 2-3 months of the academic year, leaving students inadequately prepared.

Obstacles to quitting college

Students wishing to transfer out of Sai Teja College face significant challenges.

The college withholds their marks memos until the second-year scholarship amount is received. Additionally, students are charged Rs 2,000 for a Transfer Certificate (TC), further exploiting their financial vulnerability.

Student testimonials

A student, wishing to remain anonymous, shared, “We were promised a lot, but the reality is very different. The college takes our scholarship money and charges us for everything. Many of us can’t afford to leave because they won’t give us our certificates.”

Parents have also expressed their frustration. One parent commented, “We enrolled our child here thinking it would be better than a government college. Instead, we are facing more financial problems and the education is not good.”

Call for action

“The practices of Sai Teja Junior and Degree College highlight a severe exploitation of financially vulnerable families. Authorities and educational bodies need to investigate these claims and take appropriate actions to safeguard the interests of students and their families,” added the exploited parents.