PEC all set to hike tuition fee

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

Punjab Engineering College (deemed to be university) is all set to hike tuition fee from 2019-20 onwards. 

Though it has already been decided that tuition fee would be Rs 1.2 lakh for Rs 2018-19 but thereafter it would be hiked by Rs 15,000 every year for four years till 2022-23.

In 2019-20, the tuition fee would be Rs 1.35 lakh per annum and would reach Rs 1.80 lakh per annum till 2022-23.

For 2017-18, the tuition fee in PEC is Rs 1.10 lakh per annum. Along with it, a student has to pay Rs 6,000 as admission charges and Rs 3,600 room rent, Rs 48,000 as hostel fee and Rs 7,000 as maintenance charges.

From 2018-19, the tuition fee would be Rs 1.2 lakh along with Rs 6,500 as admission charges, Rs 3,600 as room rent, Rs 50,000 as hostel fee and Rs 8,000 as maintenance charges.

The 43rd meeting of the Board of Governors had fixed the fees for five years, from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

The current agenda of the Board of Governors, which will come up for discussion on December 20, reasoned that the hike is required "on account of inflation, expenditure on account of filling of vacant faculty positions, establishment of few centres, creating and filling new faculty positions purely on self supporting basis, effect of 7th pay Commission and proportionate enhancement in pension and other related liabilities". "NITs and IITs have also enhanced their undergraduate fee structure. In PG (Post Graduate) we are not proposing enhancement to attract better talent. UG is 

PEC USP and fee is comparable to other government of India institutions," it added.

PEC to abolish 

sports faculty?

Punjab Engineering College (deemed to be university), Chandigarh, has initiated a plan to abolish positions of two sports faculty. The issue will be discussed in the Board of Governors meeting on December 20.  

At the time of inception of PEC, 162 number of faculty positions were created. Out of these, two positions of faculty for sports were earmarked. As of now, both the faculty members occupying these positions have retired now and vacancies are lying vacant.

Now, PEC has a plan of abolishing these posts and employs a post of lower grade sports instructor.

It is planning to convert these two faculty positions regularise one post of System Manager and Network Administrator.

After recommendation of the Board of Governors, the issue would go to Chandigarh Administration as it is the final authority to decide on creation of new posts.

Meanwhile, a number of physical education teachers from Panjab University have objected to it.

Prof GS Brar, who retired from physical education department of PU, had complained to Chandigarh Administration on abolition sports faculty posts in PEC. He said, "PEC also offers a course in Physical Education to its students to ensure holistic development of the students. This move of the college authorities is going to kill the opportunity of holistic development of engineering students. Such kind of narrow vision and activities of college administration will suppress the sports talent among the students."

Fact file 

• Though it has already been decided that tuition fee would be Rs 1.2 lakh for Rs 2018-19 but thereafter, it would be hiked by Rs 15,000 every year for four years till 2022-23.
• In 2019-20, the tuition fee would be Rs 1.35 lakh per annum and would reach Rs 1.80 lakh per annum till 2022-23.
• For 2017-18, the tuition fee in PEC is Rs 1.10 lakh per annum. Along with it, a student has to pay Rs 6,000 as admission charges and Rs 3,600 as room rent, Rs 48,000 as hostel fee and Rs 7,000 as maintenance charges.
•  From 2018-19, the tuition fee would be Rs 1.2 lakh along with Rs 6,500 as admission charges, Rs 3,600 as room rent, Rs 50,000 as hostel fee and Rs 8,000 as maintenance charges.