Private college hikes fees, stops defaulting students from attending classes
Students at Sree Muthukumaraswamy College are protesting a sudden fee hike and a new policy that bars students from attending classes if fees are not paid in full. The students, many from low-income backgrounds, have petitioned local authorities for relief.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the financial vulnerability of students in private institutions and the potential for educational exclusion due to administrative policy changes.
Several students of Sree Muthukumaraswamy College in Kodungaiyur have alleged that they have not been allowed to attend classes since August 3 due to the non-payment of fees, which was increased this academic year.
The fees were increased by ₹1,000 to ₹16,000 for second year and by ₹2,000 to ₹17,000 for third year students. “We were told of the increase in fees only a week before the college reopened on June 15. We were told to pay the entire fees in a lump sum for the semester with hardly a month to mobilise the funds,” a student said.
The students said that the increase in fees was announced on June 7 and the entire semester fees were to be paid by July 31.
“The failure to pay the fees by the due date will result in the non-enrollment of attendance in the portal,” according to a message from the faculty.
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