24 Gujarat Colleges Reduce Fee to Attract Students

With 12th pass students shying away due to extreme fee hikes in the state, as many as 24 colleges had to bring down the fee for courses like BE, ME, MTech, MBA, MCA and Pharmacy. Approx Rs 3,000 and Rs 50,000 fee cut can be seen in these courses. The regulatory fee committee (FRC) have been approached regarding the same. An FRC official said, "As many as 24 colleges approached us with the request to implement resolutions passed by their respective trusts/universities to reduce fees, which were approved by FRC for the academic year 2016- 17."

Out of these 24 colleges, 10 were of Bachelor of Engineering (Degree), two of Master of Engineering (ME), two of BPharmacy, one of Diploma Engineering, two of MCA, one of M Tech and five of MBA." Two colleges in Ahmedabad that reduced their fees include Silver Oak College of Engineering and Technology (offering BE), which reduced fees from Rs 78,000 to Rs 75,000 and Narnarayan Shastri Institute of Technology (offering BE), which reduced the fee from Rs 67,000 to Rs 63,000.

The maximum reduction in fees happened in B H Gardi College of Engineering and Technology, which reduced its fee for ME from Rs 1lakh to Rs 50,000 while the fee of its BE course was reduced from Rs 75,000 to Rs 50,000. A good chunk of these 24 colleges are in Rajkot, while others are in Visnagar, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Surat, Anand and so on. Member Secretary, Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC) G P Vadodaria said, "This time class 12 results were not good, so there are fewer students seeking admission. That could be a reason why colleges are reducing fees." President, Association of Self Finance Colleges, Janak Khandwala said, "Colleges have reduced fees. They have also brought up scholarship issue. Now we want to get more students so we can divide scholarship."