BENGALURU: Confusion over the multiple entry-exit provision under National Education Policy (NEP) has left a batch of hotel management students in limbo, with a city college asking them to return and complete the fourth year after they had exited the programme at the end of the third.The affected students — of Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, affiliated to Bangalore North University (BNU) — joined the course in July 2022 under the NEP framework. They were informed they could either complete four years to earn a Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) degree or exit after three years with a BBA in Hotel Management.Of the 54 students in the batch, 15 exited after three years in Aug 2025, with several securing campus placements.Ten months later, in June 2026, the college contacted them, saying they would not receive a degree after three years because of a confusion in the implementation of the programme. The students were asked to rejoin the course, pay around Rs 2 lakh in fees, and complete the final year.Many students said they had already moved on. “Some of us got good placements through campus recruitment, while others pursued higher studies. I’ve joined an MBA programme. I cannot give that up, pay another Rs 2 lakh, and lose a year,” a student said.Another student, who has secured a job paying Rs 70,000 a month, said he could not afford to resign and risk losing a well-paying position.According to students, the issue also affects those who exited in 2024. “At least nine students from that batch have also been asked to return. How is it possible to restart the course after such a long gap?” one asked.NEP 2020 was adopted by Karnataka in 2021, making it the first state to implement the policy.Implementation issuesInstitute director Brig VV Subramaniam attributed the issue to the implementation of the first NEP batch. “The college management is aware of the issues being faced by students. The institute is engaging with BNU and also the students. The matter will be resolved in their interest. Their careers and interests are what is important. BNU is supportive and the management is positive an acceptable solution will be found,” he said.In an email to students, the college said the former principal and chairman of the board of studies had failed to submit proposals for approval of the certificate, diploma, BBA, and BHM programmes. As a result, the institute received approval only for admissions to the BHM programme.BNU vice-chancellor BK Ravi said the issue has been discussed by the academic council and referred to the Karnataka State Higher Education Council for a decision.Meanwhile, an educationist said NEP was implemented in haste, leading to confusion over exit options in professional courses. “Some programmes are designed to be completed in full, and mid-course exit degrees may not be universally recognised. There are ramifications with the state withdrawing from NEP as well. Will our courses be accepted everywhere, say by UPSC? Where is the clarity on all these issues as govts and policies change?” he added.
