The State government and the managements of the private professional colleges have at a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Friday, reportedly resolved to stick to the seat sharing formula that prevailed in the last academic year. This would also mean that there will be no change in the fee structure for medical, dental and engineering colleges.
D. Hemachandra Sagar, president, Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association (KUPECA), said, “Keeping the concern of the students in mind, we have decided to sign the consensual agreement. The seat sharing formula and the fee structure will be the same as that of the last year’s.”
Official sources said that the Chief Minister ruled out the demand for a revision in the fee structure sought by the representatives of the private colleges.
Meanwhile, there appeared to be cracks within KUPECA as association secretary M.K. Panduranga Setty later told The Hindu that Mr. Sagar made an “instantaneous decision” to sign the consensual agreement. “We were seeking a 20 per cent fee hike even as Mr. Sagar accepted the line of the government.
“There is no unanimity. We had promised KUPECA members that we will take their opinion. So we will meet on Tuesday and take a final decision,” he said.
As far as the implementation of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act 2006, which was derailed due to apprehension among various stakeholders, is concerned, it will be kept in abeyance for the coming academic year.
Both management representatives and government officials said that amendments will be made to the Act before its implementation for the academic year 2015-16.
Last agreementAccording to last year’s agreement, the ratio of the government-college share in non-minority medical colleges was 40:60, while in minority colleges it was 25:75.
In dental colleges, it was 35:65 in non-minority colleges, and 25:75 in minority colleges.
For engineering, it was 45: 55 in non-minority colleges and 40:60 in minority colleges.
Cabinet meetingMeanwhile, the consensual agreement is scheduled to come up for discussion at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.
