Colleges told to collect fee fixed by the Government

College admissions can drive everyone crazy.

School toppers and those with high scores manage to get enrolled in an institution of their choice. Bankers chase such candidates to extend financial support.

Those with mediocre scores find themselves in a piquant situation.  Parents of such candidates run from pillar to post to get their wards admitted in what they consider ‘the best institution,’ without giving the child the option to choose the course or college.

The affordable and well-connected ones manage to get their wards admitted by paying hefty sums as fee for the seat.

The not-so-fortunate ones run after money lenders, friends, financial institutions, charitable trusts and relatives in search of money to educate their wards. “All that seem to matter is the seat and no questions asked over the excess (fee) collection in violation of the norms fixed by the Government. No one dares to question the authorities fearing denial of admission,” says C R Rajkanth, President, Coimbatore Consumer Cause.

The CCC, which focuses on larger public interest, has sought the attention of the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to this issue.

The association has pointed out that the Committee on Fixation of fee in respect of self-financing professional colleges in June 2013 fixed the maximum fee to be collected by engineering colleges for the academic year 2013-14 and 2014-15 as under:

For category I (students admitted under single window system conducted by Anna University) at ₹40,000 (₹45,000 for accredited courses).

For category II (students admitted under other modes such as management quota) at ₹ 70,000 (for both accredited and non-accredited courses).

Along with the said fee, the college would be permitted to collect a one-time caution deposit (refundable) not exceeding ₹5,000 at the time of admission. The Committee, while directing the colleges not to collect or levy any other recurring or non-recurring fee, clarified that the fixed fee is inclusive of tuition fee, admission fee, special fee, laboratory fee, computer/internet fee, library or sports fee, placement/training fee and other development charges.

“But the colleges are violating Government norms by collecting excess amounts under different heads such as miscellaneous fee, conference and fee for value-added courses. Most colleges collect about ₹1 lakh one way or the other,” Mr Rajkanth wrote.

Alleging most self-financing colleges of indulging in such unethical practices, the CCC President said, “it is not an issue for the institution. Only the student and parents have to bear the brunt, as banks provide loans only to the extent approved by the Government. Students therefore end up getting inadequate finance to pursue their education,” he said.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to view the issue sympathetically and ensure that colleges collect only the fee fixed by the Government.