Student’s Protest Against Donations In Karnataka

Condemn The Collection of Donations By Private Educational Institutes !

Provide Free, Fair and Quality Education To All !!

Protesting against the collection of exorbitant donations from students by several colleges including S.H. Jain College, SIJM College and HPS College in Harapnahalli Taluk, Davangere District, Karnataka, the Karnataka AISA unit organized a large scale protest demo on June 1st in front of all the three colleges which was attended by more than 200 students demanding that the donations be paid back to the students.  The colleges had been demanding donations from students of more than double the amount of the actual fees. The protest has resulted in the college administration being forced to repay the amounts collected from students as donation.

“Private educational institutes are robbing the poor in the name of education. We demand that the schools and colleges collecting donations should return the money within 15 days, if not, protest rallies will be held before government offices. The government should cancel the registration of schools which are accepting donations.” said AISA State Secretary, E. Ramappa. A memorandum was submitted to the Tahsildar of Harapnahalli demanding that a task force be constituted during the time of admissions and reopening of schools and colleges to look over the modalities of admissions into these educational institutes. The Tahsildar accepted the memorandum and has assured the representation that a meeting of heads of schools and colleges will be called to discuss the relevant concerns under the chair of the Deputy Commissioner.

Paying Donations is not the only problem that students in the Taluk face. Essential foodstuffs in hostels were not being provided to students due to the negligence of hostel wardens. Following a confrontation with the wardens, a small protest was organized and the hostel wardens had to submit to the demand of the students that all hostel facilities, so long denied, be extended to them.

The fact that private educational institutes are getting away with collecting donations is a common fact. AISA demands that the Karnataka State Government take stock of the matter and ensure that free, fair and quality education be provided to students of the state. In cases where private educational institutes are asking for donations, we demand that the government immediately cancel the licenses provided to these institutes to function. AISA calls upon students to join the struggle for democracy and social transformation in education !