Indecision on extra fees proves taxing for parents

Colleges make a killing as government fails to fix a cap

The issue of extra fees in professional colleges is back to square one, nearly a year after the constitution of the one-man committee to look into the problem, under the chairmanship of P Venkataramaiah, former vice-chancellor of the Kuvempu University.

Private colleges seem to have made the most of the government’s uncertain stand in this regard.

Over the past few months, the State government issued various directions for a cap on the additional fees charged by private managements. However, with nothing being announced for certain, parents have had to cough up the fee demanded during the ongoing admissions.

Admissions at various engineering colleges on Monday reflected the government’s lack of will to put an end to the menace.

The Higher Education department had stated earlier that they had categorised colleges into three groups of additional fees, based on their infrastructure: colleges that can charge Rs 10,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000. The government had promised that the list of colleges falling in each of these categories would be put up on the KEA website.

However, no action in this regard has been taken till date. Even as officials insist that they have given official directions to colleges to limit their fees to Rs 20,000, the colleges maintain that not all of them have received it.

Under the assumption that 4 pm on July 29 was the deadline for reporting to colleges as per the KEA's earlier directions, many parents were seen scurrying at the last minute for the extra fees demanded by the private managements.

Parents of many outstation candidates who were not aware that they would have to pay exorbitant fees were seen making phone calls to their relatives in the city to arrange for money.

Colleges in the city charged Rs 25,000 and above as additional fees.

“We hail from Sagar in Shimoga district. I had come earlier to pay the fees. After I reached the campus, I was told that we had to pay an additional fee of Rs 27,000. I had already taken a loan to pay the government fees. I had to go back and arrange for the extra sum. I have travelled twice to get the admission done,” said Nagaraj, whose son has secured a seat in mechanical engineering in one of the prestigious colleges in the city.

A middle-class dream

The government and the extra fees apart, parents also had to think of the boarding facilities for their wards. Fees for hostel facilities in most engineering colleges range anywhere between Rs 70,000 and Rs one lakh.

Outside the colleges, advertisers for paying guest accommodations promised cheaper deals than the college hostels. Many parents felt that engineering courses had become a costly dream for middle and lower middle class families.

“If you have someone in the city with whom your child can stay, it works out well. Otherwise, making arrangements for food and stay is an ordeal.”