I would strongly urge anyone considering studying at KCC to read my review. I will try to be as fair as possible and give my readers all the little details that this institution inadvertently fails to mention to prospective students.
KCC, as it is popularly called, is situated about 11 kilometers from Kodaikanal - down the highway to the plains and then cuts into a narrow, almost dirt road to the village of prakasapuram where the college is situated. Access there is limited and the only forms of transport are the college bus or the local minivans and jeeps that ply on a very irregular basis.
* Remember that this is a review not an advertisment, so I wont be talking about the fee structure(which is actually quite high) or the programmes offered. Just the quality of the institution based on first hand experience.
Infrastructure*
There is a small library(mostly donated books), a computer lab with a dial up connection(generally off a reliance phone - additional charges) and basic classrooms. The central structure, the Abraham Hall, is the only hall, and is generally used for the morning assembly and the student seminars in the evening. Also present are a small canteen(terrible food - high prices - infamously small potions) and the cafeteria where meals are served.
There is a small sports room which has equipment on a very irratic basis - a basketball court and a squash/ racquetball court.
Residential facilities*
The college provides single rooms for 3 - 4 students to share in 2 separate locations - on campus and off campus(the paradise inn). Water and electricity are major problems in both these locations and the on campus accomodations are not maintained as often as they should be, resulting in dangerous roof leaks near wiring during the monsoon. No internet, college charges additional fees for water heaters, computers and mobile phone chargers. Bedding is not provided. No cleaning staff for the rooms.
*Food
*The food is south indian and three meals are served in a day alongwith tea at 11am and 4 pm. The hygiene is atrocious so be prepared to play host to cats and flies.
Things I have found in my food:
a) Vegetable waste
b) a slug
c) weevils
d) wood.
Drinking water is funnelled through an old water purifier(havent seen in changed in 3 years). If you have stomach issues you might consider eating 2 meals at the canteen which is slighly more hygenic but very expensive for a college students budget. A good meal might cost up to Rs. 100 a person.
*Teaching Staff
* Young, inexperienced staff sourced from the areas around the dindigul district is what mainly comprises the staff body. There are 2 Brits - the chaplain and the vice - principal. The courses are by-the-book and lectures consist of someone reading from a book. At my time of graduating there was only one PhD lecturer and I believe her specialization was Tamil literature. The head of departments are equally inadequate with little actual teaching experience.
There are many other important issues that I need to cover as in health, safety, quality of the student body, additional hidden costs, religious environment, alumni network and enforcement of discipline. I will disclose this information on a need - to - know basis depending on the number of responses this article gets.