Colleges told not to collect tuition fees in advance

From students admitted under CENTAC

The Directorate of Higher and Technical Education has directed all private engineering and medical colleges in the Union Territory not to insist that students admitted under the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) pay the tuition fees for the academic year 2015-16.

In the order, T. Karikalan, Director, Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, said that the Puducherry Government was taking steps to disburse the tuition fees in respect of the students admitted through CENTAC.

“The Dean/Principals are requested not to insist for payment of tuition fees in advance before the announcement of the University results and issue of mark sheets for the students,” the order said, adding that action would be initiated against those who failed to comply with the rule.

Mr. Karikalan said the Directorate had received complaints from students and parents that the heads of institutions were asking them to pay the tuition fees for 2015-16 failing which the students would not be allowed to attend classes.

Students marked absent

The colleges were also marking the students absent even though they are attending the college.

Vai. Balasubramanian, president of the Puducherry State Students and Parents Welfare Association, said the government was disbursing funds towards reimbursement of tuition fees of students selected through the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) under the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Financial Assistance Scheme.

In spite of the Government Order, several professional colleges in the UT have asked the students to remit the fees for the academic year 2015-16 before April 30.

The management of a few medical colleges have also warned of imposing hefty fine and deleting the students name from the attendance register if they failed to pay the fines before this month. The management’s ultimatum is a flagrant violation of norms and has put the students in a tight spot.

The government should intervene soon and should also constitute a monitoring committee to oversee disbursement, Mr. Balasubramanian added.