Okays 5% fee hike in affiliated colleges

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27

The Panjab University Senate on Sunday approved a 5 per cent fee hike in affiliated colleges. As many as 188 colleges are affiliated with the PU in Chandigarh and Punjab. The decision to hike the fee will impact close to 2.5 lakh students.

According to the minutes of a September 29 meeting of the fee rationalisation committee under Prof RS Jhanji, principal of AS College, Khanna, an overall 5 per cent hike was recommended in all heads of affiliated colleges, subject to a maximum of Rs 1,000.

The committee reasoned that private universities had opened up degree courses and were attracting students while admissions in colleges had seen a dip.

“Better infrastructure, amenities, hygiene and a conducive environment for students is also a challenge for our colleges. As a matter of fact, in order to rationalise the fee structure for 2018-19, it is important to ensure that the fee is enhanced only up to a reasonable rate. If the fee is enhanced in a big way, the number of students in affiliated colleges will further decrease,” according to the minutes of the meeting.