Student community upset by 15% fee hike

They say medical education has become unaffordable

The government’s move to increase fees by 15% for medical and dental colleges for this academic year has not gone down well with the student community.

Various student organisations pointed out that medical education has become unaffordable as fees have been hiked for five consecutive years. Students demanded immediate rollback and have said they will launch State-wide protests against the decision.

Sithara H.M., district president of All-India Democratic Students Organisation, Bengaluru said: “The move is against meritorious students. Students from middle-class families will not be able to pursue medical education. There are very few medical colleges in the State and students will have to struggle to mobilise funds for their fees,” she said.

Jayaprakash T.S. , organising secretary, ABVP Bengaluru said that the hike in fees was not justified. “Hiking the fees once in few years is justified. But hiking it year after year will affect the student community,” he said.

The heads of many dental colleges are unhappy with the move as a large number of seats are lying vacant.

‘It’s necessary’

However, a management member of a dental college said the fee hike was necessary. “Despite low admissions, we need to hike the fees as our seats are not filled and it becomes difficult to meet the expenses of the college,” he said, adding that they were willing to provide scholarships and subsidise seats for some of their students.

No decision on 10% EWS quota

The State government is yet to take a call on extending 10% reservation to economically weaker sections (EWS) in educational institutions for the 2019-20 academic year. Medical Education Minister E. Tukaram said that a State government-appointed committee is deliberating on the matter. The Government of India, in two of its orders in January 2019, had implemented the EWS reservation for Central government posts, services and educational institutions.

New medical college sanctioned

Medical Education Minister E. Tukaram said there are around 7,645 medical seats and 2,800 dental seats in 51 medical and 35 dental colleges across the State respectively. He said the Medical Council of India has sanctioned a new medical college, Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, this year. The sanctioned intake for this college is 150 seats.