Karnataka: Govt announces 10 percent annual fee hike in private medical, dental colleges

Karnataka : Government and institutional quotas in private medical and dental colleges will witness a 10% hike in fee for the academic year 2017-18. The hike comes as disappointment for students, who will be joining the courses in the current year.

The government t further decided to hike fee by another 10 % not only for the present academic year, but also for the year after. Therefore, the 10% hike would now be done for two consecutive years. Implying that students who seek admission in the next academic year will face a 10% hike on the already increased fee this year. The hike for the two years has been announced by Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash R. Patil. The hike, he said was applicable for institutional and government quotas.

The 10% increase will lead to the government quota fee standing at Rs.77,000 a year, while the institutional quota seat after the 10% hike will stand at Rs. 6.32 lakh.

There will be no hike in fees for medical and dental seats in government colleges said Dr. Patil. Fees for dental seats under government quota for the coming academic year is going to be Rs.49,500 and for institutional quota Rs 4.29 lakh.

The decision regarding this was taken at a meeting with private medical and dental college management associations on Wednesday. The government is likely to sign an agreement with private colleges in the next two days.

Medical and dental fees was increased between 27.2% and 41.8%. last year as well.

40% of private medical college seats will be given away to government quota, while another 40% will fall into the lap of institutional quotas. The remaining 20% whose fee is to be fixed by college managements will fall in the NRI category.

Minority colleges will also have to part with 25% of their seats for government quota students.

The Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges’ Association, however, has not agreed to this giving away of seats to the government quota, till the government consents to a 25% hike in their fee.

Secretary, Association Shafi Ahmed said they would not part with government quota seats unless the government agrees for a 25% fee hike. Dental colleges too have yet to reach a consensus on it.

Several students’ organizations plan to stage a protest soon after the government announces the fee increase reports the Hindu.