AFRC fixes fee for 651 colleges

• No decision on 38 institutions
• 214 colleges fixed Rs 30,000 with a rider
• CBIT to net highest with 10% hike over last year

Capping a one-month long exercise, the Admissions and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC) has at last finalised its proposals of fee structure for as many as 651 engineering colleges the academic year 2013-14. The body has completed its work with regard to 300 colleges on Monday itself and the decision on the remaining colleges was taken on Tuesday. The AFRC report was sent to government late in the night. Top sources confirmed that a decision with regard to 38 colleges was put in abeyance as the institutions have not given their proposals at all. Neither the AFRC nor the AP Council for Higher Education has any information what the managements of those colleges are up to i.e. whether to continue to run their institutions or close them down. Government, after weighing all options, will take a decision on their fee, sources said. Members had to toil hard for fixing up fee with regard to 214 colleges, which have not furnished their data in full measure. After much deliberation, the body has finally recommended a fee of Rs 30,000 but with a condition that they have to submit their returns, faculty payment details and infrastructural data within three months to the AFRC and APSCHE. "It is only an adhoc fee and it is subject for review after the managements furnish their data. There will not be any increase from the figure we have fixed and it would be cut down if the managements' income and expenses data do not match with the actual" a member of the Committee told The Hans India. The issue of 214 colleges has generated heat after reports of difference of opinion not only among the members of AFRC but between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. Even on last day, some members of the committee have come to secretariat- from the midst of the meeting- and closeted with the Chief Secretary PK Mohanty before taking a final view. "Keeping in view of the large number of students and their careers, we have taken this decision" an official explained. According to reports, the Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT) was fixed a maximum fee of Rs 1,15,550- which is 10 percent more than last year's fee. The tuition fee of some other colleges was also hiked by 10 percent but the number of colleges who cross the 1 lakh figure will be very less, according to officials. So, the highest fee is 1.15 lakh and the lowest Rs 30,000/. As the report is submitted to the government, the ball is now in government's court. It has to take an early decision as hundreds of thousands of students have been eagerly waiting for counselling to start.