Date:12/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/12/stories/2008051250120100.htm

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Engineering managements reject new fee structure

Special Correspondent

G.P.C. Nayar says managements will submit alternative proposals.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Self-financing Engineering College Managements Association has rejected the three-tier fee structure proposed by the P.A. Mohammed committee and described the proposal to grade the colleges as an attempt to create differences of opinion among the members.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the association here on Sunday, president G.P.C. Nayar said the committee has proposed the fee structure and grades without assessing the qualification of teachers, infrastructure or the placement facilities offered by the colleges.

The association rejected the proposals and said that it was a conspiracy to create differences of opinion among the 49 members. The meeting has decided to move the court against the proposals, if needed. The committee had proposed ‘A,’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ grades for the colleges and mooted the three-tier fee structure. The ‘A’ grade colleges could collect an annual tuition fee of Rs.40,000 and a refundable deposit of Rs.75,000. The annual tuition fee of ‘B’ grade colleges was put at Rs.38,700 and deposit Rs.50,000, while the ‘C’ grade colleges could collect only a tuition fee of Rs.38,700.

Mr. Nayar said the association delegates would meet Education Minister M.A. Baby and submit alternative proposals for the consideration of the government. All members were opposed to the grading system and felt that the committee had framed it in a unilateral manner.

The committee was authorised only to find out whether the fee levied by the colleges had a capitation component and amounted to exploitation of students.