Aligarh: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has launched a new coaching academy for the most excluded social class. The academy is set up with an aim of providing coaching to minorities, Scheduled Castes (SCs)/ Scheduled Tribes (STs) and women Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor (VC) of AMU has appointed Prof. Ziauddin Khairoowala, Dean, Faculty of Commerce as the Director of the newly created residential coaching academy with immediate effect. Prof. Naima Khatoon of the Department of Philosophy has been appointed as Deputy Director.
As per sources, University Grants Commission (UGC) has sanctioned non-recurring and recurring grant amounting to Rs 1328.78 lakhs for the period up to September 2012. Admission to the coaching courses will be done through a national level entrance test, and university will consider reservation for women up to 40 percent. Initially, the academy would commence with an intake of 100 students.
According to a University Official, although no tuition fee will be charged, a nominal fee towards registration and charges for hostel accommodation and meals can be considered by the academy. Further, AMU will offer twenty percent free-ship to the total students admitted to the coaching classes at Rs 2000 per month. He also added that the criteria for selecting candidates should be based on means-cum-merit and guidelines in respect to income criteria issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Minority Affairs be adopted.
