Affiliated colleges in city, Punjab costlier than PU

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 15

Every year, the Panjab University (PU) authorities face a lot of resistance while enhancing the fee for various courses, either by Senators or students’ unions, and with this, the PU continues to face fund crunch.

However, if we compare the university’s fee structure to those of its affiliated colleges in Chandigarh and Punjab, the latter tend to be much costlier. In some courses, the fee is more than 100 per cent higher. The running and maintenance charges are much higher in colleges.

For instance, a BA course costs just Rs 9,435 per annum at the evening studies department of the PU, whereas at its affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, it is close to 43 per cent costlier and over 20 per cent costlier in affiliated colleges across Punjab.

There is a larger difference in the fee structure of BCom course. At the evening studies department, it will cost just Rs 9,435, whereas at affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, it is over 112 per cent higher and in Punjab, the course is expensive by more than 117 per cent. Similar is the case of postgraduation courses. An MSc course at Chandigarh and Punjab affiliated colleges is around 73 per cent costlier than MSc (Honours School) in the PU and an MA course is expensive by more than 81 per cent.

MCom at Chandigarh affiliated colleges is 114 per cent costlier while in Punjab it is more than 118 per cent.

Senator Prof Navdeep Goyal, who has remained a part of fee hike committees in the PU, said: “The fee continued to rise in colleges, but in the PU, there was no fee enhancement for a period of six years. Also, colleges continue to add certain funds.” On opposition to fee hike in the PU, he said: “Students put pressure on senators to oppose the fee hike.”