Technical varsity rolls back tuition fee hike

Acting on the directions of the state government, IK Gujral Punjab Technical University (PTU), Kapurthala, has rolled back the hike in tuition fee (a major component). The fee comprises two components, tuition and examination charges.

In a recent meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary, Technical Education and Industrial Training, the university authorities were told that the tuition fee could not be hiked without the approval of the ‘State Level Committee on Fee Hike’, headed by the Chief Secretary.

A senior government functionary said the meeting was called after the university doubled the examination fee of affiliated colleges without approval of the ‘State Level Committee on Fee Hike’.

Vice Chancellor Dr Susheel Mittal said on the advice of the Secretary, Technical Education, the university had rolled back the tuition fee component and rationalised other components of the fee.

Apart from the protest by affiliated colleges, the SC students were worst affected as under the SC-Post Matric Scholarship scheme, the admission portal of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment was not accepting the increased fee structure.

The fee component of the SC students is reimbursed by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the state in 60:40 ratio under the scholarship scheme.