Complaints have emerged that some private Primary Teacher Certificate (PTC) colleges in Gujarat are allegedly demanding donations of ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh for management quota admissions, despite the state introducing a centralised online admission system this year to curb irregularities.
There are also allegations that certain colleges are collecting ₹3 lakh to ₹4 lakh from students by promising that they can complete the course from home without regularly attending classes, practical sessions or internships.
The complaints have surfaced as the state conducts online admissions for most PTC seats, while 15% of seats in private colleges remain outside the centralised process under the management quota.
Offline Management Quota Admissions Under Scrutiny
Gujarat once had more than 400 PTC colleges, but several shut down as student enrolment declined. Demand for the course has reportedly increased again following the government’s announcement two years ago of large-scale recruitment of primary school teachers with the required qualification.
After offline admissions were permitted for three consecutive years amid declining enrolment, complaints emerged last year that some private colleges were allegedly offering seats only after collecting donations.
To address such concerns, the government introduced a centralised online admission process this year. However, admissions to the 15% management quota in private colleges continue to take place offline, covering more than 2,000 seats.
According to complaints, some colleges are allegedly demanding donations ranging from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh for these seats.
Candidates were required to submit management quota application forms in person at the respective colleges by October 24. The deadline for paying application fees was October 26, while verification of management quota admissions is scheduled for October 27 and 28.
Allegations of Students Being Allowed to Complete Courses From Home
Separate complaints allege that some private colleges are collecting ₹3 lakh to ₹4 lakh by promising students that they can complete the PTC course without regular attendance.
According to the allegations, students are being offered the option of avoiding physical attendance for classroom teaching, practical sessions, assignments and internships. Some colleges are also allegedly promising internal marks without the required participation.
These claims have raised concerns about compliance with academic requirements and the monitoring of private colleges. Questions have also been raised about the effectiveness of inspections reportedly conducted by District Education Officer (DEO) offices.
However, the allegations have not been independently verified based on the information available.
3,547 PTC Seats Remain Vacant After Two Online Admission Rounds
Meanwhile, two rounds of online admissions have been completed for more than 16,800 seats across 211 PTC colleges in Gujarat.
At the end of the second round, 3,547 seats remained vacant. A third round of admissions is planned to fill the remaining seats.
Students Allowed to Correct Application Details
Students were scheduled to receive an opportunity on October 26 to correct details in their previously submitted online applications, including changes to their selected stream or medium of instruction.
Requests for these corrections must be submitted in person at the designated office in Gandhinagar.
The allegations of donations for management quota seats and promises of completing the course from home have brought the admission practices of private PTC colleges under scrutiny as Gujarat continues its admission process.