Shackled by the heavy burden

In continuance with the previous issue's topic 'A pound of flesh', Savio Rodrigues brings you the uncut version of the confessions made by the institutes and its reasons behind this extracting act in this edition of 'The Best Kept Secrets'…

'The end justifies the means' is an adage that has made its presence felt whenever discussions on ethical issues surface. Whether that applies to the institutes charging unaccountable fees to get a good hospitality education is debatable.

When this reporter started his investigation into this phenomena of 'Donations' in hotel management institutes to secure a education seat, the general parlance was one of 'what's unusual! It happens everywhere in India'. However, over the course of two months, interactions with the industry over this issue, has revealed some disheartening, logical and surprising feedback.

Some industry professionals seemed unperturbed and some reputed professionals in the field of education said it was justified as many opined that education is a business after all and just like other businesses - the aim is make profits. The institutes though, blamed the government authorities like the National Council, AICTE and the Ministry of Tourism. Many stated that, if these bodies can ensure that we were adequately funded or made changes in the existing fee structures that are archaic in nature, we would not need to resort to such kind of practices. Even parents that were spoken too voiced serious concerns and fears over such malpractice but almost all played accomplices to the act, as they didn't want their children to be deprived of a hospitality education. For this they were willing to pay the price for it.

Let's take the Furtado's (name changed on request) - a middle class family in Mumbai, during the admission of their son at a popular AICTE approved institute in North Mumbai, had to shell out Rs 50,000 in order to get their son admitted into the college. The person asking for that amount was the principal herself. When asked why had the Furtado's chosen to pacify the institute by the paying the money towards the infrastructure. The answer was simple, it is a reputed college and it is mandatory or else my child will be left without a good education. Incidentally, the Furtado's experienced this phenomenon in atleast three AICTE approved colleges in Mumbai.

Conversations with principals of various colleges revealed or rather let's just say that they would have us believe that in most cases the fee structure is the reason behind this practice. With colleges charging a mere Rs 30,000 to 40,000 for a hotel management course and with the students per year being limited as per the guidelines issued by the concern government authorities, it is almost impossible to impart quality education and standards to the students. While some colleges do run on education trust funds, these funds are not sufficient to run these colleges. Opined one principal, increasing demand for hospitality education is also shortening the supply of teachers. And with payment scales being ludicrous when compared with other sectors of education. Colleges and its teachers resort to such practices to make ends meet. For example at IHMs across the country, very senior lecturers are still paid such piddly amounts of Rs 15,000 plus incentives, after having being the profession for over 20 years. "It is no surprise then that we resort to such practices. Having being in the profession for over 25 years, till today salaries of principals are so meager, that it is a shame to even mention it. Children that pass of from colleges nowadays, earn better than us." Another expressed, "It is easy for the government to established certain guidelines and norms of business, after all its mere paper work, which is done with very little thought about the Indian hospitality education scenario in totality. But when it comes to the actual execution of the job as an education institute, it gets difficult as the funds or fee structures are just not justified. Hence, I see no harm in taking what many would term as donations, after all I need to run a college and provide quality education. And why shouldn't the students pay for that. If the government can make a mechanism that will help us to charge adequate fees for a good education, all dealings that are under-the-table will be in the open and receipted".

In fact a reputed professional in the education field, known for his alliance with a US based education association, felt that if students today want a good hospitality education, then they need to pay the price for that good education. "Let's understand the education scenario well," he stated, "We are in the business of education. To run a good show, with proper facilities, international standards of quality, hygiene and most of all training, you require the money. If the government is being restrictive in its spends towards education and is yet demanding quality to tide over the sudden influx of tourists in the country. Institutes are left with no choice but the charge high fees and since the additional money cannot be accounted for it takes its as part of its donation drive."

While some institutes might be in dire need for more funding. The general belief is that the money instead of going into the coffers of the institutes for miscellaneous expenses, it is normally pocketed by the key culprits in this act. But the most surprising feedback came from the hoteliers themselves, they deliberated, that today the hospitality sector is slowly getting to be quite popular, and it is natural that everybody will be looking for a career in a promising industry. With the demand being high and supply being low, on account of government restrictions (the intake of the number of students to a course per college being less) in order to get into good colleges, parents will be non-hesitant in paying top monies to secure their wards into a good college. And institutes themselves will be keen to ride their good luck and make more money albeit unofficially. Much like the hike in room rates, one said. It's about riding the good times.