Panel proves AP colleges wrong

Private professional colleges have submitted proposals to the Admissions and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC) to allow them to raise their fees.
The private colleges argue that the fee structure in Andhra Pradesh is very low compared to other states, and hence an increase in the fees is necessary this year. This, however, is not true according to the government’s findings.
The government has constituted a three-member committee to study fee structures in other states.
The committee, which has visited Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra so far, found that the fee structure in Andhra Pradesh is higher than in the other states (the committee is to visit Kerala next week and conclude its tour). The committee observed that though there is a variation in the division of seats between government and management quota, and fee structure in different states, the overall seat matrix and fee structure in AP is comparatively beneficial for college managements.
In Karnataka, the fee in the convener quota is Rs 18,000 and in the management quota, Rs 65,000. The division of seats is in the ratio of 50:50. In Tamil Nadu, the fee in the convener quota is Rs 30,000 and in the management quota, Rs 65,000 and the seat sharing pattern is in the ratio of 65:35.
However, in Andhra Pradesh, the fee in the convener quota is Rs 30,200 and in the management quota, Rs 91,700. The seat sharing ratio is 70:30.
“ The argument of private colleges that they are running into losses due to low fee structure compared to other states is proved wrong. However, we can arrive at a final opinion only after we examine the fee structure in Kerala, which is known to be a progressive state,” said Prof K.C. Reddy.