Fee hike: Government rejects demand of private engg colleges

The state government has rejected the demand of private engineering colleges to increase course fee by 30% in the coming academic year.

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy and Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil held a discussion with colleges on the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act.

Representatives  M K Panduranga Setty, secretary of Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges' Association (KUPECA) and M R Jayaram, secretary of Karnataka Professional Colleges Foundation secretary who were present in the meeting, demanded a hike in the fee.

They said the cost of running colleges has gone up and the increase in the fee last year is not sufficient to cover these expenses. For colleges to deliver quality education, the fee has to be increased by 30%, they demanded. Minister Rayareddy rejected their demand saying that an increase of 30% in the fee would adversely affect students. He said that he will hold a discussion with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to decide on the hike. The discussion between the government and colleges over common counselling for admission to medical and dental colleges, based on National Eligibility cum Entrance (NEET) ranking, did not reach a decision.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rayareddy said, “Out of thousands of students who graduate from engineering colleges every year, only six to eight per cent of students get employment. Very soon, we will be establishing a committee to understand industry requirements so that the syllabi is changed accordingly.”