KOLKATA: None of the colleges can increase admission or semester fees this year or charge any application fee from students applying for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These were some of the decisions taken in an online meeting of college principals across the state on Sunday.
The All Bengal Principals’ Council, which includes more than 400 principals in the state, held the meeting to discuss measures for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the process of which are scheduled to begin on August 2. They also iterated that all colleges must adhere to the admission guidelines set by the higher education department and meet the deadlines.
“We called for a meeting of college principals on Sunday evening. It was an online meeting given the pandemic and the social distancing guidelines of the government,” said Subires Bhattacharyya, president of All Bengal Principals’ Council and secretary of the West Bengal Vice Chancellors’ Council.“The meeting was to convey to all principals they must follow the admission guidelines recommended by the state higher education department. The government has released a notification and a set of guidelines for UG and PG admissions.”
Last year, as college admissions began after the pandemic struck, almost all colleges under the state government had reduced semester as well as admission fees. In some colleges, the slash was almost 40% to 50% of the original amount. This year, too, the fee structure is expected to remain similar.
“It was decided in the meeting that we will not increase the fees this year because the pandemic and its consequent economic crisis have taken a heavy toll on many families. Keeping the fee structure low like last year will not add additional financial burden on students and their guardians, who are already going through a tough time. Colleges will also not charge any application fees, as instructed by the state government. Other guidelines recommended by the government will be followed,” said Indrila Guha, principal of Basanti Devi College.
The state government has already issued the guidelines, according to which admission portals will open on August 2 and the merit list will be published by September 1. First-semester undergraduate classes are scheduled to start on October1. But University Grants Commission has allowed colleges to continue admitting students till October 31 if seats remain vacant.
The institutes have been told to analyse reasons behind seats remaining vacant last year. “Colleges have been asked to draw up a list of departments, where more seats remained vacant compared to other departments. Colleges must start the academic session by October 1. UGC has allowed admissions till October 31. We want to stick to this schedule,” said a member of the council.
