Bharathidasan University has put on hold levy of revised exam fee announced earlier this month.
The decision to revert to the old fee structure for the forthcoming semester exams follows representations by students and teacher associations, Vice Chancellor M. Selvam told mediapersons at a hurriedly-convened press meet on Sunday.
The per-paper revised exam fee structure - ₹125 from ₹ 75 for UG programmes and ₹250 from ₹150 for PG programmes - was arrived at by the Exam Reforms Committee after studying the general fee structure prevalent in other universities in the State, and announced after due approval of the Syndicate. "The Exam Reforms Committee will have a re-look at the fee structure," Prof. Selvam said.
The university, which has been managing its finances with funding from the State government, finds itself in a tough financial situation due to implications of COVID-19 pandemic, substantial decline in revenue from distance education programmes, and the necessity to meet salary expenditure of guest lecturers in the 10 erstwhile constituent colleges that were converted into government arts and science colleges in recent years. The staff in these colleges are due to receive the revised salary reflecting in one-third rise with effect from March, the Vice Chancellor said.
The transfer of 14 erstwhile affiliated colleges in Mayiladuthurai district to Annamalai University had also impacted the university's finances, Registrar in charge L. Ganesan said.
