Demand for one-year freeze on professional course fees amid drought; Chandrakant Patil open to it

Drought in the state has worsened the finances of many farm families. A demand has now emerged that waiving examination fees alone is not enough for students in higher education. The demand is for a one-year freeze on fee increases in engineering, medical, pharmacy, management, hotel management and other professional courses, with the fees for the academic year 2026-27 kept unchanged next year as well.

The Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA) is responsible for fixing fees for these courses. Colleges are asked to submit their expenses and proposals for fee increases, and fees are then set on the basis of fixed norms. Those making the demand say that social and economic conditions should also be considered when this process is run each year, along with students' financial capacity and the extra burden on them.

It has been said that with parents' incomes hit by the drought, passing the burden of a fee increase on to students could make it difficult for them to study. Fees for traditional courses are low, but newly started courses across the state charge higher fees. The demand is that there be no increase of any kind in these fees.

Meanwhile, the state government gives girls a 100 per cent concession on education and examination fees. It also pays half the fees of children from backward classes, while children from reserved categories do not have to pay fees at all. As a result, very few students have to pay the full fee. Even so, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil has said that, treating it as a special case for once, a freeze on next year's fee increase can be considered.

The FRA has invited proposals from colleges as part of the process of fixing fees for the academic year 2027-28. The last date for submitting these proposals is October 31. The demand is therefore that the state government make its position clear, keeping in mind the drought conditions and students' financial difficulties.

According to the demand, the government should talk to the FRA and take a proper policy decision on not raising fees in the next academic year. If current fees remain unchanged in 2027-28, parents of students will not face a heavy burden of fee increases.