No circular, college fee waiver for girls remains non-starter

Government degree colleges in the state lack clarity this year over the fees to be collected from girl students, even two days before the PU results are announced.

The government, had, in its budget for 2018-19, announced that girl students would get free education in government colleges as a move to encourage them to opt for higher education.

The colleges are clueless as to the fees they must collect in the absence of a circular from the government. The circular may not have been issued as the election model code of conduct is in place, it is said.

"We have to begin admissions next week, but are unsure of the fees that girls have to be charged. We are getting calls from several parents, asking if girls would get free education," said the principal of one of the degree science colleges in central Bengaluru.

The authorities in this college plan to go with the existing norms and charge nominal fees from all students seeking admission and make no exemption for girls.

The admissions section at the government PU college, Basvanagudi also had a similar response.

"We have not received any circular from the department about the fee cut. We will follow the orders issued previously," said the administration staff.

At the government first grade college, Tumakuru, the fee for science students is Rs 4,000; Rs 2,500 for commerce and Rs 2,000 for arts. A senior professor from the college said they would continue to charge the same fee.

"We presume that it is due to the election code of conduct that the circular has not been sent. We will speak to officials from the collegiate education department and take a call," he said.

Speaking to DH, Rajkumar Khatri, principal secretary, department of higher education, said free education had to be given to girls till post-graduation, but there has been no decision on the policy for the current academic year.

"We will have to wait for the next government to take charge and take a call on whether this will continue. It is based on the next government's budget that it can be implemented," he added.