Kasaragod Government College admitted three students to Interior and Architectural Design diploma course in July but has not started the course yet, leaving the students in the lurch. The course was sanctioned by the Centre for Continuing Education Kerala (CCEK). CCEK is an autonomous body set up by the state government to promote continuing education programmes in polytechnic, engineering, arts and science colleges.

K T Malavika, one of the students who was admitted to the course, said she felt cheated by the college. "I was given admission in July. When the course did not start even after two months, I got in touch with the college. But I was told they are not starting the course," she said.

The college said it was ready to pay back the Rs 5,000 it took from her as admission fee. But Malavika said it was not just about the money. "I lost a year by waiting for this course to begin. I was told about it only when I got in touch with the centre," she said.

The college, on its part, told her it could start the course only if at least 10 students took admission. But only three joined the course. She has now written to minister for higher education K T Jaleel, who is also the chairman of the governing body of CCEK. According to its website, the centre is "dedicated entirely to the growth and development of technical education, industry, business and social amelioration".

But Malavika felt that the Centre had deteriorated her situation. She was reportedly told by the college the course in which she joined did not have takers in the Malabar region. "If they knew students did not prefer the course or there was a catch that the course would start only if 10 students joined it, they should have informed me instead of wasting my one year," she said.