St Stephen’s hikes fees, amid criticism

NEW DELHI: St Stephen’s College has increased its annual college and residential fees, despite opposition from teachers. While the college fee has been increased by almost 6%, the residential fee has gone up by nearly 9%. Teachers had opposed the fee hike, stating that charges were already higher at St Stephen’s than in any other trust-run college of the university.
The total annual fee has been increased to Rs 40,420 for Humanities and BA programmes from Rs 37,920 last year. For Physics, Chemistry and Bsc programmes, the fee has been increased to Rs 42,835 from Rs 40,335. Mathematics (Hons) will cost students Rs 40,780 a year, up from Rs 38,280 last year. The college offers 10 undergraduate courses.
The residential fee has been hiked to Rs 60,000 from Rs 54,550. In the 2016-17 academic session, it was Rs 49,550. At the college’s governing body meeting in March, teachers had opposed the move to raise fees. “As much as 95% of college funds come from UGC. The trust is to contribute the remaining 5%. Every year, the administration increases the fees, but we have no idea how much the trust contributes,” a teacher said.
At Hindu College, the annual fee for BA programme is Rs 14,790; it’s Rs 16,590 for BSc courses. At Shri Ram College of Commerce, the annual fee for BCom (Hons) is Rs 29,793; for BA Economics (Hons), it is Rs 29,273.
“What is the logic of hiking the fees when other colleges are charging much less? The college runs several certificate and diploma language courses and we don’t know what happens to the money from these. All that is supposed to be used for students’ benefit,” said another teacher.
College officials couldn’t be reached for comments.