Government forms expert sub-committees to finalise fees structure for private colleges

The Telangana government-appointed expert panel on higher education fees has formed four sub-committees to examine legal, academic, infrastructure, and audit aspects. Reports are expected in 4–5 days to help frame a revised, legally sound fee structure for private professional colleges.

Hyderabad: In a move to streamline the fee structure for the higher education institutions in the State, the State government appointed an expert committee that has constituted four sub-committees to address various aspects of fixing the fee.

Four sub-committees – Legal committee to be headed by TGCHE Chairman Prof. V Balakista Reddy, Academic committee by OU College of Engineering faculty Prof. Krishnaiah, Infrastructure committee by DTCP director Devender Reddy, and Audit committee will be chaired by State Audit director Venkateshwar Rao.

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This decision was taken on Monday after the expert committee held detailed discussions on the factors to be considered for finalising the fee structure for the private professional colleges in the State.

According to a TGCHE senior official, the sub-committees have been asked to look into their respective areas and come up with a detailed report in the next four to five days.

Based on these reports, the expert committee is expected to draft its recommendations on the fee structure and related policies for the government.

Earlier, the government had constituted a 10-member expert committee headed by the TGCHE Chairman Prof. V Balakista Reddy to suggest revised parameters for fee fixation in the private unaided professional colleges.

The committee was asked to examine and propose appropriate parameters for fee fixation in private professional institutions. It was tasked to explore and identify relevant indicators and benchmarks to be considered for determining fee structures, keeping in view the practices adopted by other States.

It has also been asked to look into relevant Supreme Court and High Court judgments and other pertinent factors impacting the cost of education.

The government move comes following TAFRC’s recommendation to appoint a committee to examine the parameters and suggest revised parameters for fee fixation, duly studying the process being followed in other States and keeping in view the relevant Supreme Court and High Court orders.