DU colleges hike fees

With Delhi University implementing the four-year undergraduate programme from this academic year, several colleges have decided to raise the fees for various courses being offered.

The decision to hike the fees is taken by the colleges and the university has nothing to do with it.

"There has been no directive from the university. The decision to raise the fees is taken by the respective colleges," Avinashi Kapoor, the varsity's joint dean of students' welfare, told IANS.

The DU colleges hiking their course fees include Sri Ram College for Commerce (SRCC), Hans Raj, St. Stephens, Kirori Mal, Lady Sri Ram and Ramjas.

"There has been a hike of just Rs.1,000 for economics and commerce programmes being offered by the college," SRCC principal P.C. Jain told IANS.

St. Stephen's College has raised the fees by five-eight percent for the science and humanities courses.

"There would be a hike but it won't be more than 10 percent. The hike would be for all the courses except for the Bachelors of Technology (Btech) in Electronics," Hans Raj College principal K.V. Kavatia said.

However, colleges like Hindu, Miranda House and Lady Irwin are not raising their fees.

"There will be no fee hike in Hindu College. We have already printed the fee structure in our prospectus," Hindu College principal Praduman Kumar said.

Miranda House principal Pratibha Jolly said: "We have not taken a decision on the fee hike so far."

Under the new four-year undergraduate programme offered by DU, students will be required to study 11 foundational courses in the first two years, clubbing together students who seek vocational education with those pursuing pure academic disciplines.