Karnataka's medical education to get costlier by 10%

As per reports, medical students in Karnataka enrolling for medical and dental courses for the academic year 2022-23 will have to pay 10% more fees as compared to earlier.

Karnataka's self-financing medical and dental college managements have been demanding to increase the course fee by 15% but as per reports, the government has decided to increase the fees by 10%. 

Sources in the department of medical education confirmed to Deccan Herald that the fee hike was decided in a meeting held with representatives of private medical colleges on Friday. With this hike, students getting admission under government-quota seats in private colleges will have to pay INR 12,884 more as the fee will be INR 1,41,630 a year.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the private medical colleges wanted a 15% hike in fees but the government convinced them for 10% only. The consensual agreement was expected to be signed on Monday and after the agreement will be signed Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai or Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar will formally announce the new fee structure. 

The All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) has appealed to the state government that fees for those applying for seats under the government quota in private colleges should not be increased by 10%.

As per these students, this decision will favour private medical colleges and will deny access to education for students especially students from rural areas, reported TNIE. “Enrollment in government degree colleges has fallen significantly this year and it is a reflection of the problem and highlights the reality. The fee hike will further discourage medical aspirants from pursuing higher education,” said the State Secretary of AIDSO Ajay Kamath.

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