Signing of fee pact put off to Thursday

Officials from the Higher Education Ministry said that the agreement will now be signed Thursday morning after addressing the concerns of private colleges.

Private colleges raised certain issues on the number of rounds to be held, the holding of the supplementary counselling round, and the process of returning seats from CET back to private colleges.

These issues were raised during the meeting of private managements with Higher Education Minister V S Acharya on Wednesday evening.

“We have already addressed these concerns of the private colleges, and convinced them that no changes were necessary. Hence, the process has been shifted to Thursday,” said an official.

The signing of the agreement by the representatives of the medical/dental and engineering college associations and the State government will be the culmination of a long, bitter and exhausting series of negotiations between the two sides.

Under the agreement, engineering colleges can offer their seats under CET quota at two rates: Rs 30,000 or Rs 35,000. If a college opts for the lower figure, it can charge a higher fee under COMED-K and management quota at Rs 1.25 lakh.

 If the college opts for the higher CET fee, it can charge a fee of Rs 1 lakh under the COMED-K and management quota.

Popular colleges are expected to take up the lower fee under CET, as they stand to make more money with the Rs 25,000 higher fee under COMED-K. Those colleges that have struggled to admit students under COMED-K - which includes a majority of colleges - are likely to opt for the higher fee under CET.

Overall, 45 percent of seats will be offered to colleges under CET and 55 percent of the seats under COMED-K or management.

A five per cent supernumerary quota mandated by AICTE for poor and meritorious students will be offered for free.

There will be no change in fee for both medical and dental colleges, with minor changes in the seat-sharing ratio.

Seat selection for disabled

Medical examination and seat selection for disabled candidates will be held on Thursday. Disabled candidates are eligible for reservation upto three percent in government and government-aided colleges.