In the second hike in two years, the Karnataka government has announced a 10% hike in fee for private engineering colleges from the academic year 2019-20.
Speaking after a meeting with representatives of private college associations on Saturday, Higher Education Minister G.T. Deve Gowda said the government had decided to allow a 10% hike in fees, as against the 25% sought by college managements. There would be no change in the fee structure for government colleges, he said, adding that the fee structure was finalised earlier as the election code of conduct was expected to be put in place soon.
With this, government quota students, who were paying ₹59,400 and ₹53,460, would pay ₹65,340 and ₹58,806 respectively for government seats. The fee for private seats had been enhanced from ₹1,30,680 and ₹1,83,600 to ₹1,43,748 and ₹2,01,960 respectively.
8% hike last year
The last academic year saw a flip-flop by the government over the fee for engineering courses. After announcing a 10% increase for the 2018-19 academic year, it reverted it to 8%. The fee regulatory committee, headed by retired judge D.V. Shylendra Kumar, had threatened that it would file a contempt of court, if the government did not cap the hike at 8%, which was the rate fixed by the committee for all professional courses.
M.K. Panduranga Setty, president of the Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges’ Association said college managements had asked for a 25% hike. “After negotiations, we agreed on a 10% hike. The increase in PF and DA for employees totals 22%. Even with this 10% hike, we will have to fund from our pocket,” he said.
Mr. Setty said along with the 40% government quota seats, private colleges also have to factor in the 10% reservation for economically weaker sections in the general category, among others.
The All-India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has opposed the fee hike, terming it as “anti-student”.
Sithara H.M. district president, AIDSO, asked: “If they keep increasing fees in private colleges even for the government quota seats, where will meritorious, poor students go.”