Minister of State for Higher Education Badri Narayan Patra on Thursday assured the Assembly that the Government will review the functioning and the fee structure of the private colleges.
Replying to a question of Congress member Nabakishore Das, the Minister said that a committee will be set up to review the status of the private colleges and their fee structures. If necessary, provisions will be made under the Odisha Education Act to regulate the fee structure. Das alleged that the private residential collages are charging hefty fees from the students in violation of established norms. While the private colleges are exploiting the students, the Higher Education department is doing nothing.
Senior BJD member and former minister Pradip Moharathy alleged that there is no uniformity in the tuition fees of the private residential colleges. Even many do not have hostel facilities, he said.
Several members including Surendra Pramanik (Cong), Bijaya Nayak and Manohar Randhari (both BJD) also expressed concern over the profiteering motive of the private colleges. Responding to the members, the Minister said that the State Government is granting permission under Odisha Education Act, 1969 for opening of private colleges. There is no separate provision for residential colleges. The private colleges are claiming to have residential facilities to attract students. In reality many of them do not have hostel facilities.
Presently, the state has 2035 plus two and plus three private colleges out of which 239 are residential colleges. The total students strength of these colleges is 3,69,284 lakh.