Colleges charging excessive admission fees to be taken to task, warns minister

Sindh minister for education and literacy Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar has taken notice of reports that students in some government-run colleges were asked to pay excess admission fee by the administration.

In a statement issued on Monday, he mentioned that admission fee for the science and commerce groups for first and second year was Rs550, while for the arts group it was Rs500 and the admission form charges were only Rs10.

The minister directed the director general colleges to take action against those colleges and principals who were found involved in this malpractice.

He also ordered for returning extra fee to the students and providing their names to the DG colleges.

Dahar said that it had come into his notice that certain colleges were also selling uniforms and charging more money in this head. He said the colleges were not authorised to sell uniforms.              

He requested the parents and the students not to pay extra fee and make a complaint to the DG colleges if they were demanded any extra fee.

The minister also ordered for taking prompt action against the violators.

Dahar warned that the principals to not go beyond the prescribed fee structure in either case, otherwise an action would be taken against them that might be suspension and termination from service as well.

The DG colleges, Professor Dr Nasir Ansar, informed the education minister that monitoring teams had been formed across the province to keep an eye on the admission process and taking action against those colleges that were violating the fee structure.

He warned that severe action according to rules would be initiated against the administration of colleges involved in such practices.

He directed that principals of the colleges should restrain from illegal activities, including forcing students and parents to pay for monogram, prospectus, practical journals and other materials.