THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Faced with a financial crisis, Kerala University is squeezing the juice of self-financing colleges to generate money. Annual administration and affiliation fees are doubled. Colleges that don't have enough students are shutting down courses due to fee hikes.
The annual fee of Arts and Science colleges has been increased from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. The fee for B.Ed colleges was increased from one and a half lakh to two lakhs and from 50,000 to 55,000 for M.Ed colleges. The total fee for law colleges was Rs 1 Lakh and was increased to Rs 5 Lakh for each batch. Fees for MBA, MCA, Hotel Management and Fashion Technology colleges have been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 lakh for each batch. The annual fee for the physical education college was increased from half a lakh to one lakh for the batch.
As per the decision of the Syndicate, the fee has been increased and published in the Gazette. Colleges are advised to pay the revised fees by March 31. The affiliation fee for starting college and courses has been increased from 5.25 lakhs to 7.75 lakhs. Rs 52,500 to Rs 78,000 for additional batch and seat increase. The college inspection fee increased from Rs 26,250 to Rs 39,000.
All the varsities are facing a severe financial crisis as the government's monthly grant has stopped and the income from distance education courses has decreased. There is also a proposal by the government to increase the income of own funds. 30 crore monthly grant to Kerala University. If it stops, academic activities will also be disrupted. The Finance Department has frozen the order to set up a pension fund by augmenting the internal revenue but has not withdrawn it. Fees have been increased in this situation.
The managements say that the steep increase in fees will hurt self-financing colleges. If students' fees are increased accordingly, there will be no people to study. Several colleges have applied to end batches with fewer students.