MUMBAI: The state higher and technical education department has set up a five-member committee to study the issue of exorbitant fees charged by unaided private colleges during the Covid pandemic.
The committee will study the fees charged by the universities, government-run, aided-unaided colleges for conventional as well as professional courses. This is over and above the relief extended to students in some fee components last month. The decision has been taken based on the report submitted by the Fees Regulatory Authority (FRA) to the department in March 2021.
The FRA regulates the fees of private unaided professional colleges based on the balance sheets submitted by the institutes. However, there are several components that are not utilised in the pandemic, including hostel, library, laboratory, said a department official. But many of these components are part of the overall tuition fees and there is no break-up given, said an official. “While almost 65% students in professional colleges get some kind of scholarships from the government, this concession will benefit the remaining 35% students,” added the official.
The department has issued a government resolution (GR) in this regard and asked the committee, headed by Chintamani Joshi, secretary to the FRA, to study and submit a report with recommendations in a month.
The GR stated, as the Covid-19 pandemic hit every sector in the state, various organisations, parents and teachers, public representatives demanded to reduce fees of college-going students. At the same time, the state received memorandums by many educational institutions about not reducing fees. Hence, the committee should find an amicable solution and submit its report with recommendations, which will give some relief to students and parents, without hurting educational institutions, mentioned the GR.
The GR further stated that the decision to set up the committee had been taken in March in a meeting held by the minister for state higher and technical education Uday Samant with vice-chancellors.
