Fees hiked by 5% for degree courses at govt colleges in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Fees for various degree courses at government-run colleges have been increased by 5 per cent for the current academic year. 

The department of collegiate education, in a circular, has asked principals of government degree and law colleges to increase the fees at their level. There  will be university fees apart from this.

Department sources said that the additional 5 per cent fees would be utilised for development activities at the colleges.

“The principals have to publish the revised fee structure for undergraduate courses on the notice board. There is no need to deposit the increased fees with the government. Instead, it should be kept in the college account and utilised for development works,” reads the circular. 

The fee hike will be applicable for BA, BCom, BBA, BBM, BSc and law courses.

Department officials defended the increase, saying, “The 5 per cent increase may seem to be big, but it is not so. As the fees in government colleges are less, the hike will not be more than Rs 500. “

Fees at government colleges were increased four years ago, before Covid pandemic.

“This will be applicable only for general merit students as there is fee reimbursement for SC/ST and girl students,” officials said. 

Also, the government collects Rs 32 per student for health examination. The department has mandated that colleges conduct health check-ups for students and submit reports. 

Student organisations have raised objections to the fee hike.

All India Democratic Student Organization state secretary Ajay Kamath said, “The government provides very little funding to education, especially higher education. Seven state universities are in shambles with no basic infrastructure and lack of teaching staff. They have no money to pay pensions to retired staff. Many degree students are already taking up part-time jobs to afford the high fees in universities. The 5 per cent hike will deprive a large number of poor and middle-class students of higher education”.