JOIN USExtra fee: Colleges to follow Act next year
The division of engineering colleges into three categories by the Department of Higher Education with respect to extra fees is just an interim arrangement for the academic year 2013-14.
From next year onwards, colleges will have to follow the Karnataka Professional Education Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006, which has clearly mentioned guidelines on fee and admission. For the current academic year, the State government has divided colleges into three categories — those which can charge up to Rs 20,000 (over and above the tuition fee fixed by the government), Rs 15,000 and under Rs 10,000.
The interim arrangement was made due to time constraints, according to Prof P Venkataramaiah, former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University. He heads the one-man committee formed in 2012 to monitor colleges that overcharge.
In his interim report, Prof Venkataramaiah recommended — after looking into the facilities provided by colleges across the State — that all institutions charge a uniform extra fee.
However, there was not sufficient time to inspect all the colleges. Besides, the government had to form two committees — the Admission Overseeing Committee and the Fee Regulatory Committee as provided under the 2006 legislation before arriving at a uniform fee. As colleges expressed inability to sustain the courses at the existing government fee structure, the interim settlement was arrived at, for this year only.
The government is expecting to regulate the issue of additional fee to a large extent through this immediate measure. Last year, it was observed that some colleges were charging extra fee up to Rs 60,000. But with the interim measure in place, the government can ensure the institutions will not fleece students for now, Prof Venkataramaiah explained.
Facilities to be cut down
Some colleges in the City said they had not yet received any official intimation from the department. Some of them are aware about the category they fall under but others had no idea as on Tuesday, the last date for admission for students who secured seats in the first round of counselling.
The vice-principal of a City college told Deccan Herald that their institution fell under the Rs 15,000-category. Until last year, it charged Rs 25,000 extra fees. But with the new structure, the college would be “forced” to cut down on spending on training for campus recruitment and other soft skills, he said.
“The college offers courses in foreign languages for those interested in brushing up their CV. For rural students with poor communication skills, we offer communication training. Besides, the college spends on quiz contests, debates and other activities which all help in improving students’ overall skills, there by giving them an edge in the job market,” he explained.
According to the vice-principal, most colleges invest in hiring subject experts from outside as engineering teachers cannot impart required additional training. “It’s not the lab or library or sports facilities that cost the colleges. Rather, it’s the extra training for campus selection which is expensive,” he added.
Fewer to charge Rs 20K
Meanwhile, department officials said the list of colleges that can charge up to Rs 20,000 extra fee would be brought down from nine to four. “We are not satisfied with the list. It will be redone to cut down the number of colleges in the top category,” a senior official said.