Cracking the whip on public universities for increasing fees arbitrarily, the department of higher education has proposed to bring in a uniform fee structure for courses across varsities and regulate other fees like exam fees and sport fees. An expert committee has been formed to recommend steps in this regard, reports Sruthy Susan Ullas.

The proposal will be applicable to all affiliating and unitary universities that come under the ambit of Karnataka State Universities Act 2000. There are 25 public universities in the state. The panel will also look at a uniform timeframe for holding exams, evaluation and announcement of results.

There is lack of uniformity in the fee charged for the same courses among universities leading to discrimination. It has come to the notice of the government that some universities are arbitrarily increasing fees. In some cases, exam fees are more than tuition fees. Some others levy sports fees even without organising sports activities. All this has led to higher education being inaccessible to students from an underprivileged background, thereby hampering the very objectives and aspirations of these universities,” observed the government in a circular announcing the expert panel.

Additionally, the government has alsoasked the committee to look at a uniform timeframe for holding exams, evaluation and announcement of results. “Many universities do not have deadlines for valuation and announcement of results. There is also a need for uniform remuneration for teaching and non-teaching staff involved in exam work,” said the circular.

The expert committee has Prof B Thimme Gowda, vice-chairman, Karnataka State Higher Education Council, as the chair, with vice-chancellors and registrars of many public universities as the members. Universities have been classified into four  categories depending on the year of their establishment to decide on fee calculation and hike that can be made every two years, among others